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Radhika's Story: Surviving Human Trafficking
This title presents an incredible story of triumph over evil in the modern world. It is a moving account of what a mother's love for her child can achieve even when the odds are stacked against them both. It is a horrifying first-hand account of a survivor of human trafficking in the 21st-century. It is a portrayal of the illegal and sordid underworld of trafficking in human organs. "Radhika's Story" - A seemingly innocent sip of Coca-Cola, drunk by a starving and desperately thirsty 14-year-old girl led to the first of Radhika Pariyar's human trafficking experiences. Drugged, Radhika woke up hours later, in great pain, only to discover that her kidney had been removed and sold to the highest bidder. Radhika was married by force but tried to make the best of her situation. She had a much-loved son, but Rohan's birth signified the next harrowing episode in Radhika's life - she was trafficked again. Living in India, separated from her son and forced to have sex with up to 25 men a day, Radhika refused to accept her lot. Desperate to be reunited with her child, she fought against the odds, finding the strength to escape her horrific life and rescue her son and finally find sanctuary in a refuge set up to help survivors of trafficking. Journalist Sharon Hendry tells Radhika's horrifying but incredibly inspiring story. She also highlights the pervasive nature of human trafficking in the 21st century. The author is donating funds from this book to Maiti Nepal, the refuge which helped Radhika and Rohan and which continues to help survivors of human trafficking. This title is suitable for: fans of true crime; anyone interested in inspirational stories of triumph over adversity; and, anyone interested in globalization and human trafficking.
224 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
November 16, 2012
Very sad story of a Nepalese girl that is tricked into prostitution. While you felt the horror of what happened to her, the authors didn't go into all the horrific details of the crimes against her. The story was compelling, but the writing was really weak.
March 13, 2013
This book will break your heart but the human spirit and the triump of good over bad will lift your spirits again. After reading this, one must surely get involved in trying to help in whatever way possible, even from a distance. That is my next stop.
December 19, 2010
An horrendous story, bravely told.
I think the overall feeling I have, having finished this book, is that Radhika is one of the (lucky?) few who have survived the horrors and found a life after the terrible abuses she suffered. But, according to the figures at the back of the book, "Adults and children in forced labour, bonded labour and forced prostitution around the world: 12.3 MILLION", she was very much in the mninority. It is the reality of this huge number that is haunting me now, such phenominal suffering just to bring satisfaction to violent, inadequate men. It leaves me speechless.
Radhika was typical of so many naiive, trusting, young girls who want nothing more than to better themselves from a life of poverty. In this position they are easy prey to the traffickers who appear so caring and present such convincing offers that they would be hard to refuse.
Although we hear of such things happening, this book was an eye-opener for me in several ways. Firstly, I was shocked by the theft of Rahika's kidney; I had assumed that these organs were bought from the donors - marginally better, but at least the donor stands to earn much needed cash from the transaction. Secondly, I was horrified by the tratment of Rohan, Radhika's son, who was used a bait to keep his mother obedient, but was himself atrociously treated.
The organisation that is helping her and Rohan to recover, Maiti Nepal, is doing wonderful work in many fields, from recuperation and education, to legal advice and prosecution of the guilty, but the response of the police to Radhika's own personal complaint was woefully inadequate. This book needs to be widely read to publicise the plight of these suffering millions and eventually to bring about change.
READ IT!!
I think the overall feeling I have, having finished this book, is that Radhika is one of the (lucky?) few who have survived the horrors and found a life after the terrible abuses she suffered. But, according to the figures at the back of the book, "Adults and children in forced labour, bonded labour and forced prostitution around the world: 12.3 MILLION", she was very much in the mninority. It is the reality of this huge number that is haunting me now, such phenominal suffering just to bring satisfaction to violent, inadequate men. It leaves me speechless.
Radhika was typical of so many naiive, trusting, young girls who want nothing more than to better themselves from a life of poverty. In this position they are easy prey to the traffickers who appear so caring and present such convincing offers that they would be hard to refuse.
Although we hear of such things happening, this book was an eye-opener for me in several ways. Firstly, I was shocked by the theft of Rahika's kidney; I had assumed that these organs were bought from the donors - marginally better, but at least the donor stands to earn much needed cash from the transaction. Secondly, I was horrified by the tratment of Rohan, Radhika's son, who was used a bait to keep his mother obedient, but was himself atrociously treated.
The organisation that is helping her and Rohan to recover, Maiti Nepal, is doing wonderful work in many fields, from recuperation and education, to legal advice and prosecution of the guilty, but the response of the police to Radhika's own personal complaint was woefully inadequate. This book needs to be widely read to publicise the plight of these suffering millions and eventually to bring about change.
READ IT!!
December 5, 2012
The story is a harrowing tale of one young woman who is to trusting to strangers and it shows her absolute detemination to make it through. The story was very sad and informative. What I disliked about the book was the writing style. It was meant to be factual story however the author wrote about the viewpoints and thoughts of others that there is no way of the author knowing. Also the author repeated many statements throughpout the book.
October 3, 2014
Such a sad story. What is even sadder is that there are probably much worse stories. What gives the right of one human being to treat another in the most possible dehumanizing way? This book hits you in the gut really hard, you keep thinking, "it can't get any worse" and then it does! Very well written and the author had my attention all the way!
November 6, 2015
This is a very sad story. This girl tries to better her lot in life at the tender age of 14. She trustingly accepts the offer of a modern job and a better life, but instead enters the nightmarish world of human trafficking. How she survives this horrific ordeal is mind boggling and made possible only by her fierce love for her infant son. It is tragic that this kind of inhumanity exists.
December 24, 2016
I prefer books that read more as a narrative, but found this a very inspiring story. It almost seems historical but is happening today.
April 9, 2020
Inspirational!
I want to first thank the author(s) for this inspirational, heat breaking fact based journey of a child trafficked in Nepal and India. Radhika and Roshan (the actual name of Radhika's son) are courageous, and I wish them the very best. Because of this wonderful book, I want to give to Maiti Nepal to assist them in their operations, and assist in trafficking victims in the United States to obtain legal status. My law firm will represent trafficked individuals at no costs. Thank you for this wonderful book!
I want to first thank the author(s) for this inspirational, heat breaking fact based journey of a child trafficked in Nepal and India. Radhika and Roshan (the actual name of Radhika's son) are courageous, and I wish them the very best. Because of this wonderful book, I want to give to Maiti Nepal to assist them in their operations, and assist in trafficking victims in the United States to obtain legal status. My law firm will represent trafficked individuals at no costs. Thank you for this wonderful book!
August 27, 2017
Inspiring
It's shocking to think that human trafficking is so widespread across the world and there are so few convictions. I also find out hard to understand a culture where the victim is thought to be bringing shame on the family when she should be supported through the trauma she had endured not shunned. An inspiring but disturbing read.
It's shocking to think that human trafficking is so widespread across the world and there are so few convictions. I also find out hard to understand a culture where the victim is thought to be bringing shame on the family when she should be supported through the trauma she had endured not shunned. An inspiring but disturbing read.
October 3, 2018
Such a harsh and sad story. Heart-breaking! Radhika being a naive 14 year old girl from Nepal encountered and trusted all the wrong men. Being a victim of human trafficking at an early age, starting from taking her kindey without her premission, then into force marriage, then into prositution. A must read book!
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February 25, 20164.79 on kindle
September 7, 2018
my eyes full of tears...whn she first tym torcher by customer....emotional ...authentic..based on real lif...g8 book...i admire radhika ...her courage...really lif is nt easy whn u r in wrong hands.
August 5, 2024
Disturbing but very readable!!
For mature young adults and older. Even then, some readers may find the content too confronting. BUT this is the reality for many young Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Nepalese & Indian girls today. Some are groomed & tricked into brothels, others are violently shangied. Human trafficking is becoming a world wide problem wherever a cheap labour force is needed or where there is unmet demand for babies for childless couples. The Joanna Lumleys of this world are trying to warn young women about the dangers of strangers offering work & wealth etc. Much is also being done to rehabilitate the survivors who escape but it's slow, expensive work. Some successful prosecutions of these traders is happening but it needs the tramatised survivors to relive their experiences in court and face their protagonists again.
A very worth while read, based on a true account, well written by professional journalists. We all NEED to read Radhika's story, so as not to be judgemental and to be able to support their recovery and build hope.
For mature young adults and older. Even then, some readers may find the content too confronting. BUT this is the reality for many young Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Nepalese & Indian girls today. Some are groomed & tricked into brothels, others are violently shangied. Human trafficking is becoming a world wide problem wherever a cheap labour force is needed or where there is unmet demand for babies for childless couples. The Joanna Lumleys of this world are trying to warn young women about the dangers of strangers offering work & wealth etc. Much is also being done to rehabilitate the survivors who escape but it's slow, expensive work. Some successful prosecutions of these traders is happening but it needs the tramatised survivors to relive their experiences in court and face their protagonists again.
A very worth while read, based on a true account, well written by professional journalists. We all NEED to read Radhika's story, so as not to be judgemental and to be able to support their recovery and build hope.
October 17, 2018
I took up this book to read more about the issues related to human trafficking. I should frankly say that I was disappointed since the book did none of that. It just kept talking about one person's story (that's what the title says) and that too through her eyes.
I don't believe that the author has done enough research and fieldwork (like visiting some of these cities and the brothels there) to get a real feel of what things are like in the ground. The author has completely written the book based on interviews from the central person in this story.
It is indeed a harrowing experience and none should go through such an encounter. The author simply has denied justice to this topic!
I don't believe that the author has done enough research and fieldwork (like visiting some of these cities and the brothels there) to get a real feel of what things are like in the ground. The author has completely written the book based on interviews from the central person in this story.
It is indeed a harrowing experience and none should go through such an encounter. The author simply has denied justice to this topic!
April 13, 2023
The phenomenal strength and resilience of Radhika is astonishing. Kidnapped by an organ trafficker, she spent the next seven years enslaved by sex traffickers. She attributes her will to survive and escape to the son she bore one of her captors. The story is graphic and deeply troubling. May it reach a wide audience and encourage politicians, the justice systems, and ordinary people to fight for the women who disappear daily into the horrors of organ trafficking and prostitution.
July 22, 2024
Couldn’t finish it because it’s so poorly written, which is a shame that this woman’s story has been so let down by the author.
The author frequently misused words and phrases which was quite jarring. I also didn’t enjoy the tone with the author used to convey Radhika’s ordeal. I’ve read many books along similar lines and none of them felt like “torture porn” like this one did.
The author frequently misused words and phrases which was quite jarring. I also didn’t enjoy the tone with the author used to convey Radhika’s ordeal. I’ve read many books along similar lines and none of them felt like “torture porn” like this one did.
May 22, 2017
This is an incredible story of the resilience of the human spirit, though I did not much enjoy the way that the story was presented, hence the 3 star rating. I found the writing style did not convey the story as well as it could have.
May 31, 2023
A must-read book that shows the horrific reality of sex trafficking, the conditions in brothels and most of all, the lives of women who have to endure this living hell! Shame on humanity that makes a profit out of human suffering like this.
July 4, 2023
Books I've read and provided detailed reviews over the years but all data is lost after accidental deletion and GD's refusal to restore it back.
Adding books back to my library for my own reference and tracking purposes
Adding books back to my library for my own reference and tracking purposes
June 28, 2019
Heartbreaking
Whilst her experience is heartbreaking it could have been avoided. Let this be an example to not trust strangers easily.
Whilst her experience is heartbreaking it could have been avoided. Let this be an example to not trust strangers easily.
December 16, 2019
Harrowing account of one woman's (girl, really) experience of the cruel, wicked, debasing and merciless underbelly of India's human trafficking network. An innocent promised with a house-cleaning job, she is taken across the Nepalese border into the bustling, dog-eat-dog dystopia, that is India. There, she is drugged, robbed of her kidney, and sold into prostitution. She births a son out of this dehumanising situation of violence, squalor, entrapment; and does all she can to protect her son, and plot her escape from the sinister world of sexual slavery. It is exhausting, horrifying, gripping, draining; the vast, bottomless pit of misery and wickedness endured by one young girl. An insightful, eye-opening view into the nauseating moral depravity people will descend to, for monetary gain. My complaint though, is the journalist's flat, dull, pedestrian and clumsy prose, which failed to truly convey the horror, urgency, and devastating terror of this girl's life.
February 27, 2020
A shocking story on human trafficking.....who knew..
November 24, 2020
A story to be told but dull & repetitive writing
January 27, 2021
This was a story of horrendous abuse & the eventual survival of a young woman. It tells of her struggles for herself & her young son to get back home
August 15, 2021
Heartbreaking. I cried multiple times. I appreciate the choice made to not give in depth graphic details. Somehow in all that horror this book was also beautiful. What a phenomenal woman.
April 5, 2022
A truly amazing and heartbreaking book. I didn't want to put it down.
October 21, 2022
Unstoppable reading could not put this book down.
June 1, 2024
Finished in a day. Shocking and very sad but a great read.
November 11, 2019
Riveting, sad and informative. Taking away a star because the author said she did take some liberties so I wonder if it should be classified as "based on truth" rather than a memoir which I assume to be factual.
August 28, 2024
very informative, can be triggering though
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews