A Kite Named Aman (A Short Fiction Inspired by Real Events)
“The kite fluttered in the wind, its colors bright against the storm. But that storm was no natural one. It came with flames and fury, and with it, a life was torn away.”
Aman didn’t know much about politics.He only knew that kites flew better in open skies. And today, the sky over Murshidabad was anything but open.
His father, once a schoolteacher, now ran a cycle-repair shop after the school was set on fire last year. “Books burn faster than tyres,” he used to say with a half-smile. But Aman never understood the weight of that sentence until this morning, when he saw fire again only this time, it wasn’t just books.
Stones flew. Slogans tore through the air like wild dogs let loose. Somewhere in the crowd, a man was crying for his son. Somewhere else, a woman was dragging her daughter away from the flames. And Aman… Aman ran back home clutching his broken kite.
The protest had started innocently enough. People had gathered to voice their concerns, their anger. But as the hours stretched on, the anger turned to violence. Fires were set, shops looted, and the very streets that had once felt like home became battlegrounds.
Aman’s small hands trembled as he held his kite. His mother screamed his name from the house, but the sound of shouting and breaking glass drowned out everything. He ran through the smoke and chaos, his heart racing, his kite trailing behind him like the last thread of innocence in a world falling apart.
But just as he reached the door, a scream cut through the air. A flash of light. Then silence. The flames had taken more than just property that day. They had taken his world. His father’s shop. His school. His dreams. And now… his life.
The next morning, the news was filled with images of burning buildings, shattered glass, and broken lives. But what they didn’t show was the quiet, empty room where Aman once played, where he once dreamed of kites soaring high above.
A protest that began with a cry for justice had ended in tragedy — the death of an innocent child, caught in the crossfire of a cause he could never understand.
What Sparked the Waqf Protests in West Bengal?
The Waqf Amendment Act has been at the heart of the unrest in West Bengal. This controversial amendment seeks to bring greater government oversight to properties owned by religious institutions. The aim is to prevent the misuse of Waqf properties for commercial purposes, which has sparked strong reactions from some religious groups.
The protests started as a demand for fairness, for transparency in land dealings, and for the protection of religious autonomy. But as tensions grew, so did the violence. The rage spilled into the streets, turning a peaceful demand for change into a chaotic and bloody affair.
From Protest to Tragedy
- What began as peaceful protests spiraled into violent clashes
- Buses, shops, and religious institutions were destroyed
- Fire and chaos ravaged many localities, especially Murshidabad
- Multiple innocent lives were lost, including that of young Aman
This protest, now infamous, began as a cry for justice, but it has claimed not only property but also precious lives. It serves as a tragic reminder that, in the heat of battle, the real cost is always paid by the innocent.
What We Must Learn
Protests are a powerful tool for change, but when they turn to violence, they rob us of the very essence of our cause. Reforming laws, questioning the system — these are vital for progress. But it should never come at the cost of lives, especially those like Aman’s, who had no part in the struggle.
We must ask ourselves: Can we fix the system without destroying what we hold dear?
If you’re from Bengal or anywhere else — let this story be a reminder. Protests should be a call for change, not a cry for loss.