Equality? Isn’t this a basic human right? What will you do or how will you feel if you face inequality right from birth.
Anamika, my character faces inequality since her childhood. A girl born in the small town of Kolhapur district. Yes, she is very smart, very beautiful and one of her own kind.
She was so good in School that her teachers always praised her wittiness. She scored good marks, won several medals and helped others with studies as well. She was literally a gem when she was out of her home. Now, guess what happens inside?
Anamika, had a younger brother and she loved him so much. Her parents always wanted a son and hence never took good care of the girl. She was studying just because there was no fees in the government girls’ school or let’s say it was too minimal and waived off for her as the girl was very intelligent.
Her brother went to a lavish convent school right from starting and yes even he was sharp but not as much as Anamika.
Her parents took due care of Ishaan, her brother and even Anamika was supposed to do so. She never felt the discrimination as even she loved Ishaan a lot until one day.
So, what happened that day that the girl broke totally and cried till she slept?
Anamika passed 10th standard with 92% marks and was very happy. Even her parents were and why not. The girl made them so proud. Her teachers and even the principal came to Anamika’s house with sweets and congratulated the girl. They motivated her to take up studies even more seriously from now on as the real struggle to be successful begins then. But, as soon as they left her parents told her the harsh reality.
They were going to get her married now. What? The girl totally broke, she tried to make them understand as to what she wants to achieve in her life. Her father got so angry and decided to get her married the next month itself.
Poor girl, her husband was a 30 year old man who also never thought that she need care and affection. She told her husband that she wants to continue her studies but failure there too. She even faced domestic violence anytime she stood against him. It became so cruel one day that the girl decided to quit.
Next day, she went to police station and lodged FIR against her husband. Her husband, parents and the society everyone was so negative about Anamika and cursed her but she was firm. Now, she wanted to do something in her life and want to do that at any cost.
She finally took divorce, started working in households to earn a living and rented a very small room. She somehow managed to get free entry in her school’s library and started studying. Her teachers had faith and started helping her out with whatever she needed.
She used to work from 8 in the morning till evening and then she will study hard. She studies really hard and completes her education. Time passes and until the day everyone praises the girl again.
What? Anamika is all again in the newspaper, the girl topped the exam and became collector of Kolhapur. To her surprise, the society accepted her and this time they are boasting of the girl and giving examples of her hardship. Her parents came, Ishaan came and everyone is so happy.
Her father, he couldn’t believe that this is the same girl, his girl whom she thought cannot do anything and is just a burden on them. Anamika, she proved him wrong and now he just cannot stop crying.
Anamika, is a news now. She gifted a huge bungalow to her parents and now they finally know the worth of a girl child.
So, you see the discrimination Anamika faced and the hardships. This is not unique but in India every one girl out of 10 or 20 faces such discrimination right from birth and choose to stay quiet and some don’t. And, this is how they shine.
Inequality in any form, say gender, caste, religion and so on should not be accepted at all and we all must raise our voices against this. If we don’t we choose to stay quiet and sacrifice for our lives. And, if we do standup we shine as Anamika.
Story Concept:
Overall, women have fewer opportunities for economic participation than men, less access to basic and higher education, greater health and safety risks, and less political representation. This story is about a young girl who faced inequality right from childhood, but decides never to give up and prove herself.
Story based on:
- Article 15: Which prohibit the nation from discriminating others on the basis of their cast, religion, sex, race, place of birth and others.
- Article 21: This Act makes education a fundamental right of every child between the age group of 6 to 14 and specifies minimum norms in elementary schools.
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