The incident of child marriage in rural India is not a rare trend; rather it can be said prevalent. But recently going against this early-marriage has become a development amongst the minor girls. The list of disagreement against minor-girl-marriage is gradually elongating. One example is supplying inspiration to the other.
One more name is added to the list when Ahalya Kumar, a minor girl of 14 of Purulia in West Bengal, opposed her marriage to continue her schooling. Such antagonism started from Rekha Kalindi, and names of Afsana Khatun, Sumita Mahato, Uttra Roy, Arfa Khatun, Ahalya Kumar again made the list longer. Rekha Kalinda has already become a ‘role model’. A few days ago President Prativa Patil has said, “These girls are the pioneers of social reform”. Majority of these girls are of the same district (Jhalda of Purulia district in West Bengal) which is one of the most backward regions of India for illiteracy.
The story of Ahalya Kumar is not different from that of Rekha Kalindi. Both the family is engaged in making ‘bidi’ a substitute of cigarette. Every one of the family has to lend his/her hand in this work for earning, as this is their only profession.
Only two years ago Ahalya Kumar was admitted to a local school for labor-children. The days in school and making bidi at home were passing smoothly. But her father somehow selected a groom for her from a nearby village. When she heard she objected, but who would value objection from such a minor girl? Rekha did not stop here. She informed her friends and her friends informed their school teachers. Their teacher, Satyaban Kumar, with his colleagues regularly came to Ahalya’s father Nemai Kumar to convince him to stop marriage of a minor girl which is against law of the land. At last Ahalya’s father left all hopes. He said, “Ours is a poor family, I got a suitable groom for her but she is reluctant”. School teacher Mr. Satyaban is not ready to take the credit himself for winning the war against child marriage. He said, “ Child marriage is a custom in this region”. We got the opportunity to persuade Ahalya’s father because Ahalya went against her marriage herself.
A person who is silently supplying support and invigorating this movement of the minor girls is Assistant Labor Officer of the district Mr. Prosenjit Kundu. He said, “Besides educating these girls we are also teaching them to be conscious about their rights. Ahalyas are the fruits of this struggle.” The success so far achieved is but tip of the iceberg. We all have to join this war to achieve greater success.