Splash!: True Stories of Girls Igniting Change in Rural India

By Rekha Saleela Nair

Dive into the inspiring true stories of extraordinary girls who are igniting global change.

Splash! is a celebration of the indomitable young women in Uttar Pradesh, India, whose courageous, sovereign choices have created splashes and ripples within their families and village communities. The lives of adolescent girls in this region have been governed by myriad societal norms and controls that limit their aspirations and propel them into a lifecycle of subordination and discrimination.

Since its inception, the People’s Action for National Integration (PANI) has pursued a vision to create inclusive societies where individuals have greater control over their life situations and can take responsibility for building a mutually rewarding world. PANI’s program for the empowerment of adolescent girls in Eastern Uttar Pradesh has reached over 22,000 girls in eight years, helping them connect with their aspirations and break free from the rigidly defined gender roles that curtail women and girls’ dreams, mobility, education, and economic opportunities, to pursue their goals.

Splash! introduces you to twenty-five of those girls who have conquered immense obstacles and whose stories bear witness to the untapped potential within every young woman. Their journeys are a testament to the power of the human spirit to rise above limitations of gender, environment, culture, and society. As these remarkable girls excel in sports, work in companies, join the armed forces, pursue careers in music, and secure higher education at prestigious universities, they serve as a powerful reminder that we all possess the capacity to challenge the status quo and shape our destinies.

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Greenleaf Book Group
• Release date: Jan 9, 2024
• ISBN: 9781956072228

Book preview

Preface

Forty years ago, the foundation of the People’s Action for National Integration (PANI) was laid with the vision of creating inclusive societies where individuals have greater control over their life situations and can take responsibility for building a mutually rewarding world. Over the years, PANI’s leadership team has steadfastly pursued this vision, tirelessly working towards positive change. While we have witnessed our interventions facilitating transformation, what has unfolded in Tarun over the past eight years has left us spellbound.

Eastern Uttar Pradesh, India, the backdrop for this journey, is a region steeped in deeply ingrained gender norms that have long stifled the aspirations of its women and girls. These rigidly defined gender roles not only curtail women and girl’s mobility, education, and economic opportunities, but also limit their spirits and dreams. Cultural dogma often confines girls to limited, undervalued lives within the confines of their homes. Yet, here in Tarun, we had the privilege of witnessing a profound, sweeping change, led by the extraordinary girls who defied generations of entrenched gender norms.

In 2015, when we began our journey in the Tarun block of Ayodhya (then Faizabad) district, we were acutely aware of the harsh realities. A significant number of families belonged to Scheduled Castes (SC) and Most Backward Castes (MBC), communities that lacked crucial knowledge about health, nutrition, and government services. Poverty was rampant, resulting in severe malnutrition, limited access to education, and a cycle of despair. Adolescent girls bore the brunt of these challenges. They faced violence in public spaces, were denied education, grappled with menstrual and reproductive issues, and endured severe anemia. Their dreams were stifled, and their potential lay dormant.

Our vision was clear: to empower adolescent girls, not just with education, health, and opportunities but also with confidence, self-belief, and the freedom to explore the world. The path we forged to facilitate change was intricate and required a multi-faceted approach. We were aware that our initiatives were likely to provoke backlash from the local communities, so we meticulously crafted strategies and fostered meaningful partnerships with the community, the village panchayats, government departments, expert professionals (consultants), and other organisations who supported our cause. Our approach was deliberate, taking one step at a time but working on multiple fronts.

On one front, we directly engaged with the girls, to broaden their horizons, and simultaneously, fostered connections with their families and local institutions. The initial hurdles were formidable. Girls hesitated to participate, parents were reluctant, and communities were skeptical. Nevertheless, we forged ahead.

To create safe spaces for the girls, PANI established resource centres (RCs) in each panchayat. The RCs were pivotal to our strategy, reaching all gram panchayats¹ in the areas. Each RC was responsible for fifty girls, grouped into two units of twenty-five each. These centres became havens for the girls to share, discuss, and support one another. Through discussion groups, study sessions, sports facilities, career counseling, and information resources, the RCs facilitated empowerment and transformation. Resource centre facilitators, chosen from among the girls, played a central role. We also recruited local staff, known as didis and bhaiyas, who became trusted mentors. With deep sensitivity, they engaged with each girl individually and at the same time also engaged with parents, fostering acceptance of new behaviours.

Despite initial resistance, the programme has reached over twenty-two thousand girls in eight years. Girls whose journeys are nothing short of remarkable. They have broken free from traditional constraints, excelling in sports, working in companies, joining the armed forces, pursuing careers in music, and securing higher education at prestigious universities. These young women’s determination has left an indelible mark on their communities. Today, PANI operates an academy where girls receive training to serve as professionals at the grassroots level, either within PANI or elsewhere. This initiative enables us to extend the values of freedom and equality exponentially, further igniting the flames of empowerment.

As you turn the pages of this book, you will meet some of these girls who have conquered immense obstacles, transcending limitations that once seemed insurmountable. Their stories share a common thread—an unyielding spirit and an unwavering belief in their own agency. These stories bear witness to the untapped potential within every girl and serve as a powerful reminder that we all possess the capacity to challenge the status quo and shape our destinies.

My deepest gratitude goes to the girls who have shared their journeys and to the individuals and organisations that have supported PANI and its mission. The generous backing of our donors and the dedication of PANI’s staff and consultants made this work possible. Rekha Saleela Nair, with her countless hours of engagement with the girls and their support team, has masterfully woven their experiences into words. Her work sheds light on the complex web of social norms that shaped these girls’ lives and illuminates their transformative journey.

As we press onward in Uttar Pradesh our aspiration is that these stories become a wellspring of inspiration for all: the girls, the local communities, people across India, and the broader global community. May these narratives ignite a spark within you, prompting the questioning of entrenched norms, the embracing of your own agency, and a collective drive towards a world where every girl has the chance to flourish, prosper, and realise her limitless potential.

Bharat Bhushan

Secretary, People’s Action for National Integration (PANI)

1 Gram panchayat, panchayat: village council; a basic governing institution (political) in Indian villages, acting as the village’s cabinet

Introduction

The Writer’s Journey

Adventure came calling early in 2023.

I received an unexpected invitation to travel and document the journeys of adolescent girls in the villages around Ayodhya. The opportunity excited me. It also unnerved me. I felt I was about to embark on a soul adventure that would bring together two topics I was passionate about: women’s leadership and stories. However, the prospect of travelling through the patriarchal innards of Uttar Pradesh was daunting. Born and raised in a matrilineal community, I was used to strong women who were comfortable being their own people. I could not help but wonder how I would navigate the cultural differences and rigid social gender norms that I expected to encounter during my