
Madhumala Mandal
MADHUMALA MANDAL I’m about 38 now. When I was 15 my father went to India to earn money. Coming back, he brought many things that

Indrakala Nidhi
What could I have done? Since the school was far away from my village, I could not go there every day. In total I only


Rebati Mandal
My father died early and my family has always been poor. That is why my parents could not afford to send me to school. But

Sudhira Karna
At first I was lucky. My parents could afford to send me to school. But unfortunately in eighth grade my father became ill. Then we

Remani Mandal
I must be nearing 40 now. There are 7 people in our household. My husband and our five children live in one room. I used

Rajkumari Mandal
For many years, while I was growing up, I walked with my hands. I had polio. I had dreams like the others girls but because

Amrita Dutta
I was married at 13, so I never could finish the important 10th grade exam. My husband was mentally unstable but I was too young

Nirmala Ram
After my father was killed in a political vendetta we did not have money, so my uncle said I had to be married. Six months

Selo Yadav
I was little, perhaps just 10 or 11 when I was married and then three years later I moved to my husband’s house. At 14

Komal Purbe
I was born in Madhubani, India and from when I was young I was interested to paint. My parents were educated and sent me

Renu Yadav
My mother encouraged me to go to school, though she herself had never gone. I studied up to 12th grade, then my marriage was arranged.