Stanley Ka Dabba

First of all, I would like to thank Amole Gupte for giving us a message through the heart touching story of Stanley. In one of the speeches, Honorable President of India, A.P.J. Abdul Kalaam said that the movies are the best instrument to spread awareness. He also added that Bollywood has power to change the lives. Because, the youngsters follow the heroes. Heroes are the ideals for some of us.

In this way, Amole Gupte has contributed a little. Those who have seen the movie, would be well aware of the story line. A school boy, named Stanley, comes to the school very early and without Tiffin Box : Dabba. Sometimes when he becomes hungry, he only drinks water and tries to satisfy insatiable hunger. His friends share their snacks with him.

A teacher, Mr.Varma(Amole Gupte), is presented as Khadus ( villion). Here, Amole sir has criticized some of the teachers in well defined manner. He used to have others’ Tiffin. He also asks the students to give their Tiffin to him. And, asks Stanley not to take from others’. Stanley’s friends do not like to share Tiffin with Mr. Varma, Khadus. Therefore, they start sharing the lunch on the terrace of the school building, hiding themselves from Khadus.

But, at last, Mr. Varma comes to know the secret place where the friends are sharing Dabbas. And in anger, he orders Stanley not to come to the school until he brings his personal tiffin. Hence, Stanley doesn’t come to school.

Here is the turning point of the story.” What would he be doing” think his friends. They give a call to Stanley’s mother but the number does not exist. After many days, one of the students sees Stanley strolling outside the school and informs the friends. They all run and meet Stanley. Meanwhile, there is a concert in the school and from the school one promising student has to be sent to the Concert. Friends inform Stanley about it and Stanley directly goes there.

When Miss Rosy, an English teacher, comes back to the class, the boys tell why Stanley is not coming to the school. In that reaction, Miss Roey offers Mr. Varma her Tiffin and other teachers come to know about Khadus’ behavior with Stanley. Internally, Khadus repents. Stanley gets a chance to perform in Concert and he comes back to school with surprise, the Dabba. He tells that his mother has made. He also offers Khadus his Dabba. Here is a moving seen. Khadus cannot talk to Stanley and tells that he has resigned from the school.

On the other side, after the concert when everybody leaves for home, Rosy admires Stanley and asks for a lift. But, Stanley tells that her mother has come with car and waiting. A school principal leaves Stanley his home. And the heart-touching moment come. We get shocked seeing the situation. Sometimes, seeing is not believing. But, the fact is fact. We cannot ignore reality.
We come to know that Stanley is being exploited as a child labor. His parents are dead. He lives with his uncle whom he doesn’t consider as an uncle. Stanley works at his uncle’s hotel at night and eats the food which is left.

Really, Amole Gupte has presented the reality in one and half hour time. Now, it is up to us. It is our responsibility to help over 12 million Stanleys working around in India. I think if we join hands and work together, by some span of time, we can do a little. And, sometime, a little is too Much…


If heart melted, sms STANLEY TO 57827 to pledge your support against child labour. Or, log on to www.stanleykadabba.com to contribute to ‘The Tree of Hope’