Story based on a book by Sheila Zubrigg

This is an exercise to practice asking “why” questions. Listen to this story. Take a few minutes to journal or think about it, and then discuss. 

Rakku did not breastfeed her baby; she had to work in the landowner’s field from dawn to dusk. As both a landless peasant and a woman, Rakku was paid far too little to feed her family, so she took her seven-year-old and ten-year-old children to work to help her earn more. She left the baby in the hut under the care of the five-year-old daughter. Even with the older children working beside her in the fields, Rakku’s earnings could not buy enough food. Often times the baby went hungry. A vicious cycle resulted with the baby’s increasing under-nutrition and repeated bouts of diarrhea. One day, the baby had severe diarrhea and grew limp, and Rakku decided to take her into the hospital in the city. To do this, Rakku had to miss a day’s work. At best, this meant a day without food, for the family had no reserves. At worst, she could lose her job—the consequences which she was afraid to think about. She knew a wiser mother would let her baby die to preserve the family, but Rakku loved her baby too much.

Rakku sold the last of her possessions to pay for the bus fare and took the child to the hospital. After waiting in line for hours, she was told she was too late and must come back the next day. Rakku slept in the street with the baby and returned the next morning. By then the baby was near death. The doctor scolded Rakku for waiting so long and for not taking better care of the baby. He referred her to a nurse, who carefully explained the importance of breastfeeding and hygiene. Rakku listened silently. Meanwhile, the doctor skillfully rehydrated the baby with an intravenous sugar water. The doctor gave Rakku a prescription for medicines to buy at a pharmacy and sent her home.

Back home, with no food or money in the house, the baby soon died.

Discuss: Take a few moments to think to yourself, write it down if you would like: “Why did Rakku’s baby die?” Make a list of all the reasons.