Painting Artists – Janakpur Women's Development Center

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

QuickLinks