March 14, 2003	Friday	Muharram 10, 1424

BENTOTA (Sri Lanka), March 13: He was a computer expert who was educated at a reputable university in the United Kingdom. He had a four-year-old son whom he loved dearly and his wife loved him as much as, if not more than, he loved her. In short, he was leading a contended and happy life.

But then he did something which upset his near and dear ones so much that they disowned him completely.

In a moment of weakness, he told his wife that he was HIV positive. In other words, he disclosed to her that he had been infected by a disease which would develop into AIDS.

Within no time he was left alone _ without a wife, without a son, without a home.

This happened more than five years ago. But even today he roams the earth with a gaping whole in his heart. The reason for his emptiness: the people who once took pride in their association with him find it shameful to call him their own.

He seems utterly ill-equipped to deal with the cruelties dealt him. One feels, after meeting him, that he’s wasting more because of the thoughts that he’s perpetually immersed in than by his condition.

His name is Rajesh. He spoke to the participants of an international workshop on HIV and AIDS here on Wednesday. The grey-haired, 40-year-old Sri Lankan broke down in tears several times during his brief talk.

Talking to Dawn after the workshop session, Rajesh said he was by nature a trusting fellow. “That’s why I gave the benefit of doubt to my partner. That’s why I told her of my condition,” said Rajesh.

“I didn’t know back then that I would be left empty-handed once I told her. I was stupid you know.”

Rajesh was not the only HIV-positive person who spoke to the participants of the workshop, “Fighting HIV/AIDS Through Strategic Communication”. It is being organized in collaboration with the World Bank.

There was a 37-year-old Indian as well. Then there was a resource person whose spouse actually died of AIDS.

This person once worked for a world body. But she quit it when she could no longer cope with the injustices meted out to her. After quitting this organization she joined the World Bank which affords her opportunities to work towards a sympathetic environment for the HIV-positive people.

The HIV-positive person from India is actually taking part in the decision-making processes. He is also a member of the Greater Involvement of People Living With AIDS/HIV, or simply GIPA.

This organization brings all the important people who are either HIV-positive or have full-blown AIDS.

This person comes across as a very cheerful person. He has even married a HIV-positive person. He is of the view that tragedies take birth just to test people. That’s why these should not be taken too seriously.