Women have come a long way in India with respect to not being confined to just the kitchen. Today our women are CEOs of international companies, world renown sportswomen and artists. They stand shoulder to shoulder with world leaders at conferences where men constitute 99% of the attendees. All this would never have been achieved if not for them receiving equal opportunities and education.
Luckily, our young girls are aware of the importance of having a proper education now. And unlike earlier, they are bold enough to do whatever it takes to ensure they receive one.
According to Times Of India, three sisters 16, 14 and 13 years of age, from Indira Nagar, UP left their home in desperation after their parents told the eldest one to give up her studies and to take up some job to help the family financially.
The eldest of the three girls made the decision to leave home after her parents told her to discontinue her education and work. Since she shared a deep bond with her younger sister and their cousin, the other two also accompanied her.
Speaking of the incident, the police say:
“She had such strong bonding with her younger sister and her cousin that the moment she decided to leave home, they accompanied her. They left home on April 23 night on a bicycle with the younger ones riding pillion.”
The parents lodged an FIR with the police the next day finding the three of them missing. The father informed them that he had asked her to stop schooling and take up part-time jobs as a maid doing chores like washing and cleaning at homes.
The girls meanwhile had travelled to Sitapur and sold their bicycle after running short on cash. From there they travelled to Shahjahanpur by a local train and further to Lakhimpur and later accidentally took a train for Lucknow.
Indiranagar inspector Mukul Verma says:
“They again decided to leave for Sidhauli and reached Kaiserbagh bus stop where they were spotted by police.”
The girls have since been handed over safely to their parents, who expressed gratitude to the police. The father of the daring girls has also promised the police that he would work harder and let his daughters pursue further education.
These girls highlight two truths with this incident. The deep bond that sisters share and the fact that girls these days have the courage to achieve anything that they want. They are not willing to bow down and say yes to whatever the patriarchy dictates. The father’s promise is a ray of hope and I pray he holds up to it. Else these girls will surely find a way.