Circumcision

In our country the word “Circumcision” portrays a strange feeling of human mind where pain mixes with gain and end up with a joyous get together!  

Just two days’ ago, we have done the ritual circumcision of my seven years old boy Aafiq. When we took back him home from hospital, he wore our traditional male dress Lungi and could not work properly, just was digging for a walk. Nobody told to anyone what was happen to this distant kid who was never seen with this environment friendly male dress Lungi, but people of surroundings understood themselves and started to wish the kid, Congratulation Baba! Congratulation uncle!

After reaching home, well-wishers and relatives called us to know how Aafiq was then. Many of them talked to the little kid asking about what he wants now and after sometimes the baby boy was getting tried of expressing same things to many as what’s his favorite toy, loving food and preferable candy!!

There was also almost a common question from everybody to Aafiq, “Have you felt anything when doctor was doing circumcision?”

Aafiq replied the same answer to all, “I could not remember anything!”

Yes, it’s true! Now-a-days most of the boys cannot feel anything during circumcision as doctor use local or full anesthesia wherever it’s needed. But when our father or grandfather did the circumcision about 80-90 or more years ago, it was not so easy matter then. At that time in rural area, the person usually did the process of circumcision was called “Hazam” what was a name of true panic for kid boys in those old days. When Hazam came to any house of any village, eligible boys of circumcision hide themselves with a twinkle of an eye. Then parents found them after a strong search, forcedly did circumcision by Hazam with no anesthesia!!! At present we can never imagine the pain of that poor boy of those old days!!!

After recovery, generally a blessing ceremony is arranged where a family get together happens. But in old Dhaka, the joy and excitement of similar event is so exposing as people of outsider may be confused about the program is it marriage or circumcision!!!