You think that you have a common life and there is nothing extraordinary about you? No. Each woman is special and every fight that she fights is a fight for her existence. We bring to you the success stories of women; women like you and me who saw a dream, were denied it, fought back, and are living their dreams today. Read how Sramana, a girl next door, resisted all the blows the society gave her and is living her life today with all the things that she wanted and deserved. She also helps various NGOs to help the underprivileged to realize their dreams.
Hi,
I am Sramana and I come from a small town in West Bengal, called Dharampur. Both my parents belong to different faiths; my father is a Muslim and my mother, a Hindu. This has been and still is a big issue in society and it renders to my identity crisis — I cannot really affirm to one belief. I unlearn and learn every day and slowly, I have grown to believe that the only faith I need to have is in me and the world.
I completed my graduation from a central university and I am pursuing my Post-Graduation from another central university. But things weren’t this easy, especially for a girl who had to rebel throughout. I was molested by my cousin at home when I was in second grade and it went on for four years. My teacher groped me in eighth grade and there are more instances I probably cannot speak of. I ran away from home multiple times because I never really felt at home; for me, it was always traumatic. When I was in 12th grade, everyone thought that I won’t pass my board examinations; I had scored 3% in my pre-boards. But as a person who loves reading, I was always reading something or the other. I just couldn’t confine myself within any system. Surprisingly, I scored 89% which was way beyond anyone’s imagination but I knew that I had worked hard for it. Anyway, my dad didn’t believe, he thought that it was nothing but a glitch in the system. I think it is then that I started recognizing the chains women are shackled into. I always dreamt that I will reach somewhere — where, I did not know, but I knew that I would find a place that would be mine, a place I would call home, a place where I would be me!
I believe that I grew through challenges and circumstances. I took admission in a college near my home and my parents were happy about it, but life was very monotonous there. I knew that I wasn’t really learning anything. I saved some money and filled out BHU’s (Asia’s largest residential university) undergraduate entrance application. I lied to my parents, somehow went to another city and sat for the exam. I only revealed it when I received a call letter from BHU. Oh, how I had always wanted to study Literature! I had to convince my parents to let me study at BHU. It was a Herculean task. It finally happened; I was slowly doing things I liked. I had fought for everything I wanted and my life was slowly getting better.
While academically I was doing fairly good, my personal life was falling apart. Back at my home, my parents had issues between them. I was always worried about my mother’s well being. Inside me, it was a war against patriarchy.
After I graduated I had to choose whether I wanted to pursue a Postgraduate in English or shift to something else (I was selected for Gender Studies in Jamia Millia Islamia). I knew that Delhi is very expensive and it would be difficult for my mom, the sole earner of my family, to bear these expenses. I did not want to become a burden on her. Yet I knew that I wanted to study and learn more. Hence I am here in Delhi, about to finish my Post Graduation in the coming academic year. I scored a 9 GPA in my first year, got selected, and interned at the prestigious Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India. I also intern at NGOs and am working in the development sector. I am unlearning my privileges every day and trying to become a better person. I love traveling, which I have been doing since the past three years; I don’t have the funds but I manage somehow. I think I travel because I cannot confine myself in one place; my mind wanders.
I took charge of my own life, rebelled, and made things happen. My father still doesn’t believe in my achievements but that’s okay. Most people do not understand what my course is about or what Gender Studies is going to fetch me in the long run, but I enjoy my curriculum. I do not know what the future has in store for me but I think that I will get through it. The only thing which hurts me is how women lie at an intersection of crises. Being a woman with conflicting religious identity, being around men I cannot trust, having anybody to guide me throughout; it has been a rollercoaster ride! But all in all, life is good!
Originally published at https://www.fuzia.com.