What does it mean to get an education? In the West, education is
considered a necessity, not a want. However, what happens when you don’t have
that option, would you fight for it? Would you want it that desperately? Here
in India, getting an education has much more value, especially amongst the
female population. An education isn’t something that is classified as a
necessity for them, its something they want, and will continue to strive for.
In the village of Shiyani, which is located thirty kilometers
outside the district of Barmer there are a group of girls who have struggled to
stay in school despite the many obstacles that they have been faced with,
especially when it comes to the issues of child marriage. Phoondi, who has
currently passed the 10th grade, is one of the girls in Shiyani who
has struggled to convince her parents to not get her married and allow her to
continue her education.
A week ago, Phoondi’s parents stopped her education and kept her
at home so that they could get her married on Akha Teej. Akha Teej also known
as Akshaya Tritiya, which occurs on the Third Lunar Day of the Month Vaishaka,
which is during the month of April and May. Since Lunar Days are considered
auspicious, especially for marriages, many parents arrange to get their children
married on these days. When Phoondi learned that her education was stopped so
she could be married off at the age of 16, she took every step possible in
order to stop her parents from getting her married.
Phoondi tried everything from telling her parents it was against
the law to threatening to call the police, but to no avail. Her parents refused
to change their decision regarding her marriage. So Phoondi took the ultimate
step, grabbed a bottle of poison and told her parents that if they don’t stop
her marriage and send her back to school, that she would drink the entire
bottle. At first her parents thought she was bluffing, but when they realized
she was serious they gave in and called her off her marriage just a few days
before the wedding was supposed to take place. Her parents also gave her
permission to study further, as it was also part of her demands.
Phoondi is currently filling out applications for the 11th
grade, and is also an advocate for local girls whose parents have stopped
sending them to school. Phoondi has also helped 40 girls gain their confidence
and defend their rights. She along with her friends Manju, Nirmi, and Guddi and
the support of Vikalp have spoke to many girls in their village and made them
aware that it is illegal for their parents to attempt to get them married
before the age of 18.
Personally, I think that once a girl knows her rights to her
education, to live her life, and to not be forced into any decisions before she
is of the legal age nobody can harm her or make her do things against her will.
Yes, it takes bravery, courage, and strength to be able to look your loved ones
in the eye and tell them that what they are doing is wrong and that ultimately
it is your decision when you get married and how you continue to educate
yourself. Ultimately, it is your right and no one can take your rights away
from you. This is just one success story, and there are many others like
Phoondi who have been made aware of their rights through workshops that Vikalp
holds in their villages. Vikalp will continue to educate girls about the rights
and what they are entitled to. Vikalp will also continue to support any girl
child who is in need of assistance at any time.
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