My father was murdered. The tragedy turned my mother almost mad with grief and it was left to my grandmother to look after my four brothers and sisters. She worked as a labourer so that we could get some money to eat.
I started attending school regularly after I turned 14. I used to finish the house work and go to the government school. My family and elders did not allow me to come to school. My family used to say -- 'What's the use of studying? Are you going to become a collector you think?'
They would say that girls would get spoiled if they were sent to school and their place was in the house. But I managed to get myself to school with the help of the didi from the welfare programme and I now stay in a hostel.
I want to become a graduate. I also teach screen painting and karate. I earn Rs 2,000 every month for teaching screen painting and Rs 1,000 for karate.
I look after my siblings, send some money to my grandmother and even manage to save. I want to be independent and tell everyone in my village that all children should go to school.
Image: Anguri Khatun's father was murdered when she was young. The first to go to school in her family, she was told that girls get 'spoiled' if they are educated.
Also see: Satyendra Dubey: A forgotten hero?
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