Shelter From The Storm

Has anyone ever told you you’re too sensitive? Smarita Sengupta, who provides a safe space for survivors of human trafficking, is proof that there is no such thing. Nikita Sawant chats with the crusader.

- Nikita Sawant

Growing up, Smarita Sengupta was a shy kid. By her own admission, she wasn’t particularly brilliant and had self-esteem issues. So much so that her parents were concerned about how she would get on in life. She was also a very sensitive child. Seeing a child work in a tea shop or a security guard standing for hours on duty would make her sad. It wasn’t until much later that she realised she didn’t have to look away from such injustices—she could make a difference by getting closer to the problem.

The epiphany came when Sengupta started working in an NGO called Apne Aap, where she was introduced to the gory world of sex trafficking. She recalls, “During my stint there, I visited brothels and shelter homes. I became close to the children who were trafficked and rescued, started thinking about their future, and that sort of pushed me towards working for this cause.”