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Village girl breaks shackles, turns celebrity
Hailing from the dacoit-infested Chambal, where girls are confined to kitchens after their primary education, 22-year-old Anshu Arele comes across as a rebel with a cause. She has already broken all shackles, dogmas and taboos to enter politics. Even more incredible is that for a girl from the obscure place,
Leaves plum jobs to serve village
Hailing from the dacoit-infested Chambal, where girls are confined to kitchens after their primary education, 22-year-old Anshu Arele comes across as a rebel with a cause. She has already broken all shackles, dogmas and taboos to enter politics. Even more incredible is that for a girl from the obscure place, where education is least in the priority list, this newly-inspired torch-bearer of her generation of females, she has an envious B-Tech degree!
As fate would have it and in accordance with her own sweet will, she is now a member of the Bhind panchayat from Ater tehsil and she is all set to assume charge next month. Talking to Young Hans, Anshu highlights the challenges of being a girl in Chambal with an ambition to serve the people of her district. Anshu’s story is one of courage and determination that raved through lond-established but obsolete societal beliefs.
After acquiring her B-tech degree from Rustamji Institute of Technology, Tekanpur, in 2013, she brushed away plum offers from IBM and Infosys to contest the panchayat polls, she wanted ‘to do something for the society and my region.’ Not unexpectedly, particularly in the politically surcharged and sensitive district, her move to penetrate through the male-dominate bastion, instantly evoked criticism with many branding her as “dirty”.
Anshu received several threats when she announced her decision to contest for the elections. “I was warned of dire consequences if I went ahead with my decision”, pointed out the brave-heart in a chat with this correspondent on Monday. She says it was only her father Arvind Arele, who defied the diktat and stood solidly behind her. Arvind, who contested from the same panchayat five years ago, lost the elections. When his daughter decided to jump onto the political bandwagon, his friends and well-wishers cautioned him against it. Her family too had to face a barrage of insults as Anshu decided to campaign for the elections, contesting from Ward No 7, Pawaai, “Initially, no one recognised me. But they knew my father and grandfather.
I had to make a mark for myself”, says Anshu, recalling how people turned away from her when she went to take their blessings for a political baptism. “It was the first time I had stepped out of my house and gone so far”, reveals Anshu. Her determination gradually brought results as people, especially women, warmed up to her. But Anshu assures she is firmly grounded. “Anything can change in politics. I do not wish to get carried away.”
Anshu already has a list of grievances she wishes to address. “Village sarpanchs most often embezzle funds meant for developmental purposes. Moreover, many villages in Bhind district have no electricity. That has to change”, says a determined Anshu, who has vowed to eradicate the system which confines women to household chores. “I will exhort women and young girls to pursue their studies. It is very important to educate the girl child, particularly when the world talks of women empowerment and gender equality in all spheres”, she reasons.
By:Mythili Sankara
