A Diamond In The Rough

by Harry Taylor (Australia)

Making a local connection Bangladesh

The intense bustling noise, the piercing flashing lights, the thick smoggy air... This was the greeting I received upon stepping onto the land of Bangladesh and it was a moment I will never forget. Journeying from my home country of Australia into the mystical realm of East Asia, nothing could have prepared me for such a deeply immersive and life-changing adventure. I was on a soul mission. A quest to empower and transform the lives of those living in the most dire of circumstances as their hopeful wish for a better life was battling with the bleak reality of their existence. Being a noble and altruistic young man of 21 and having already undergone many of life's perilous struggles, it was my sole intention to serve the Bangladeshi people by providing them with an ongoing financial opportunity through my spice business "Really Nice Spice". This would be made possible through my Bangladeshi friend Abesh whom I met in Australia and connected with over shared values and ideals for the world, specifically regarding the importation of organic and ethically sourced spices from his family farm into Australia to be sold through my business. Arriving solo at Chittagong airport, I was greeted by Abesh as he carried a warm yet somewhat perturbed expression upon his face that gave me the impression that all was not well behind his cheery yet feigned demeanour. We exchanged greetings and shared some stories from the months that we were apart before I asked him what was troubling him as I could tell something in his life was askew. He gave a short pause before stating that corrupt officials within the government were attempting to effectively steal the ownership of the farm which had been in his family for generations. This was due to the unexpected death of his uncle who was a renowned freedom fighter across the country with his actions playing a pivotal role in countless people's quest for liberation and freedom from oppression. At that moment it occurred to me that our ambitious plans of courageous grandeur may be swept away like footsteps in the sand before the ineffable force of the ocean's waves. Days later we arrived at this said farm to share a traditional meal prepared by Abesh's family with exquisite and delightful tastes emanating from the potent spices within the dishes that had been organically grown only a stone's throw from where we dined. It's intriguing how such a simple act of eating can be so deeply impactful because from that moment I felt that our shared pursuits had been renewed with such vigour that no obstacles could stand in our way no matter how challenging they may be to overcome. Weeks later I travelled to the home of Abesh's aunty, styled with ancient artifacts sourced from all over Asia. I came to her home on Abesh's request to explain my journey and attempt to give her comfort in the fact that I would follow in the footsteps of her late husband by bettering the lives of her countrymen. I shared my story and believe that I moved within her a force that would allow catharsis to occur at the depths of her being, ridding away the grief and sorrow of her loss and replacing it with hopefulness and faith in the good of humanity. As I ended my tale, she stood and moved gracefully to a shelf and swiftly plucked an item from it before returning to where I sat. She then revealed to me a wrought iron spice grinder from a bygone era, resembling perhaps one of the first renditions of our modern mortar & pestle. She told me to take the gift and let it inspire me to continue with my quest as I was shaping a destiny not just of my own but one that was inextricably linked with the lives of many. Through all the moments of joy and times of great tribulation, I hold this endeavour deep within my heart and feel the truest sense of gratitude and thankfulness for this responsibility I have been endowed with as I journey into the unknown and stride forwards with the act of service alone being my guiding light.