Mennonite Central Committee

First Person: M. Ummer

From the November/December 2007 issue of "A Common Place"

Since I was a child, I’ve always wanted to be on stage and make people happy. I grew up in South Andaman, an island in India’s Andaman and Nicobar Islands. I’m 27 years old and the second youngest of five brothers and three sisters. By the time I was a teenager, my father had retired, and my family ­didn’t always have everything we needed. I remember once, when I was 17, my father asked if I could buy some food. I was still in high school and had no money. I wasn’t able to.

When my father died, I felt powerless that I hadn’t been able to help my family. Today, though, I work to help people across the island.

My house is very close to a shelter for tsunami survivors. I knew some of the people before the tsunami, and I heard the sad stories. I wanted to do something to bring the people there some happiness, but I didn’t know what.

A friend of mine heard of an opening for a community worker in the shelters and encouraged me to apply. I visit residents. Along with other workers, I help plan and carry out weekly events for children and youth, as well as men and women in the shelters.

Our team had many trainings, including one from a magician who came from Kolkata. When I saw it, I told our coordinator that I wanted to develop skills in this area.

I’ve learned 20 magic tricks. When I perform at the shelters, I dress up so no one recognizes me — in a wig, mustache, hat, cape and gloves. One of the tricks that people especially love is when I show them an empty container, then recite, “Abracadabra, ee-lee, jee-lee, hocus-pocus, go!” When I pull flower garlands and sweets from it and pass them out, they are delighted.

Shelter residents come from different islands with different cultures, religions and languages. Entertainment brings them together. As the show ends, the audience pleads, “One more, one more!” or “Do it again!” I feel pleased that they have enjoyed themselves and forgotten their problems.

Later, when I have removed my costume and sit among the crowd, I overhear some say, “Why don’t they call the magician back?” They don’t know that it was me! 

M. Ummer is a community worker on India’s South Andaman Island for West Bengal Voluntary Health Association (WBVHA), a partner of MCC. He works with families who lost their homes to the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.