The Thorns of the Catfish with Me…
Most people in Arakan, including myself, come from farming, agricultural, and riverside communities. We’re used to eating fresh, raw food directly from our farms, ponds, and the land. In Arakan, people rarely eat fertilized or processed food because we have access to fresh and healthy produce. In my life growing up there, I don’t remember anyone who wasn’t involved in farming in some way.
When I was about seven years old, I visited my sister, Zuhara Begum. Her in-laws came from a wealthy family and owned a lot of land, ponds, forests, and other natural resources. They made good use of these assets, benefiting greatly from them.
The day I visited, my brother-in-law came home with two kilograms of catfish in a basket and asked my sister to cook them for the workers in the fields. Although the fish wasn’t meant for me, I was thrilled. The fresh, large catfish excited me because I knew how delicious they would taste with a big serving of rice.
While my sister started cleaning and cutting the catfish, I played nearby with some other children. We were all in the kitchen area and, as kids do, we started quarreling. The situation escalated, and despite attempts to stop us, we grew more aggressive. Then one of the girls pushed me hard, and I fell backward onto the catfish scraps. Two of the catfish thorns pierced my back, and the fight came to an abrupt halt.
I cried loudly in pain, feeling utterly helpless. My sister tried her best to pull the thorns out, but she couldn’t. Desperate, she called my father, and he rushed over. But instead of immediately helping, he scolded me and hit me with a stick. Finally, he managed to remove the thorns and told me never to sit near thorny fish again.
After that incident, I stopped fishing and avoided touching any fish brought home. But from that experience, I learned a deeper lesson about conflict and justice. My father understood that I was already in pain, yet he chose to discipline me rather than the other children involved. By punishing his own son, he prevented the situation from escalating. Had he punished the others, the conflict might have drawn in more people and complicated things further.
Looking back, I realize my father’s wisdom. Through his actions, he taught me valuable lessons about responsibility, fairness, and avoiding unnecessary conflicts. His words and actions continue to guide me, shaping the way I live my life today.
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