“25 Strokes of Kindness” is a collection of short stories about kindness| Publisher: Grapevine India Publishers (17 November 2013)
“25 Strokes of Kindness” is a collection short stories by 25 authors. The stories in “25 Strokes of Kindness” explore emotions in various levels. Kindness is a great human virtue that uplifts human perception to a high level. “The Photograph” by Nikhil Khasnabish is one of the stories in the book.
“The Photograph” is the story of a tea garden girl. She came to Dispur (Guwahati) with hundreds of agitating people to pressure the government to grant them status of tribe.
As she was made naked by hooligans opposing the agitation, she ran along the escape route down from Dispur. Then Anjan, a photographer of a national daily, ran after her to offer her his clothes so she could wear them and cover her shame. He also took her nude picture.
When the editor of his newspaper insisted on getting the picture so they could publish it on the front page of their newspaper, he refused to give it to them. For him, praise and award were not above her nudity. It is a story of kindness.
“Can you imagine the consequences if you don’t give us the photo? … You will be sacked outright.”
“I’m sorry, Sir. I am not afraid of consequences.”
This true story of kindness encompasses the tea tribe of Assam.
The 25 Strokes Of Kindness include stories like Ouroboros, A Pack Of Parle-G, Is It Kinder To Give Or Receive, Please Hug Me, A Ten Dollar Wedding, Fifteen Minutes, Pentimento, Crossroads, Saving Of Life And Love, A Piece Of Contagious Kindness, Court Sentence, Letters To Karka, The Lost Girl, The Photograph, The Helping Hand, The Last One, The Collateral Emotion, Colours Of Gratitude, Lessons Of A Father To His Daughter, A Rare Sight, Reality Check, Love Thy Neighbour, Six Rupees, Santa For Christmas, and An Act Of Kindness.