Let me begin by introducing myself, for I am a woman so unlucky that words fall short to describe the plight of my fate. My name is Padmini Barik, and I come from the Keonjhar District of Odisha, a region where women are often reduced to nothing but mere objects in a patriarchal society.
My fate was sealed when my parents’ outdated mindset and the lack of progress and development in my community led to my child marriage at the tender age of 17. They believed that getting married before turning 18 would be the key to my happiness, but little did they know that it would be a precursor to an early demise.
At 18, I gave birth to my first child, followed by the second at the age of 20. But tragedy struck when my husband met with a fatal car accident, leaving me with two young children to fend for. The loss of my husband shattered me, and the thought of providing for my children made it even more agonizing.
My in-laws, who appeared to be supportive until the day of my husband’s funeral, revealed their true selves and asked me to leave my only son with them, claiming that I would be unable to provide for him. But how could I be a burden to them when my own family was dependent on others for their basic needs? I chose to act in the best interest of my children and left home with my matric fail certificate in search of work.
The road ahead was anything but easy. Unable to secure employment near my home, I settled for a position as an “Asha worker” in Koida block that required me to trek up to ten kilometers daily through a remote community. The minimum wage was hardly enough to sustain us, so I began taking sewing lessons to supplement our income. Most days, I implored God to grant me thirty hours instead of a mere twenty-four, so that I could spend more time with my children. The journey was particularly arduous with a breastfeeding infant in tow, and sometimes my baby would cry inconsolably until I returned home from work.
But as they say, sorrows never come alone, they bring their relatives with them. In the depths of my despair, I attempted to end my life, but the cries of my breast-fed infant brought me back from the brink. A small voice inside me reminded me that my children needed me, and that I couldn’t leave them behind. From that moment on, I chose to live my life, no matter what challenges lay ahead.
And then, a ray of hope shone upon my life. I met Sisir sir (Cluster Facilitator), a staff member of Aspire, who offered me a job as a cook for RBC at Joda block. As I entered the RBC, I couldn’t help but notice the adolescent girls who, like me, had experienced a life of neglect and destitution. Their eyes mirrored my own struggles, and their stories resonated with my own. Despite the job being far away from my children, it allowed me to sustain my family, and I joined Aspire, determined to make a difference in the world. With the organization’s support, I went back to school, finished my high school, and then enrolled in college. The organization gave me the time and space I needed to study and even allowed me to take time off from work on exam days.
After graduating from college, I interviewed and was selected as a LEP (Learning Enrichment Program) teacher at my village Ramchandrapur. My son and daughter, now aged 13 and 10, who were deprived of their parents’ love since birth, could finally be with me.
Aspire’s impact on my life has been immense, and I owe my success to the organization. My in-laws, who once rejected me, now love me and my children, believing that I am the luckiest member of the family. However, I remind them that it is too late to make amends. People often ask me if I will ever do a second marriage, and it fills me with rage, for they fail to see the strength and courage it takes to raise two children alone in a patriarchal society. I had an epiphany that I had been constructing my own story as the “unluckiest person,” and it was then that I realized that we all hold the power to change our narratives and take control of our lives.
I want to emphasize that although everyone faces problems in life, it is ultimately up to us to find solutions. If a wealthy individual encounters difficulty, the entire world would rally to their aid, but unfortunately, the poor are often left to fend for themselves. Society tends to view me as unlucky because of my husband’s passing, but if the tables were turned and I died, my children would soon have a stepmother. We must learn to rely on ourselves to find solutions to our problems, no matter how difficult they may be.
Aspire has brought about a change in the lives of countless individuals in rural India, and I am a living testimony to its impact. It has not only empowered me but also provided me with the means to provide a better future for my children. Now I am very much blessed with my children. My son is in class 6th wanting to become an Engineer in future and my daughter is in class 5th willing to be an IAS officer in future and here I am willing to fulfill all the dreams of my children till the last breath of my life. My story is just one of many, but it is a testament to the fact that with determination and the right support, one can overcome even the toughest of challenges.
