At 16, I married my cousin – “I’m 22 years old. I got married at the age of 16, and I have two young children. Soon after my 10th grade, my parents got me married to my cousin. I really wish I had studied further, especially when I see my friends who are educated. I would’ve been able to work at a job in some office, earn, and support my family. I think that it’s very important for a girl to be educated. It empowers a girl and gives her an opportunity to stand on her own feet. An educated girl can choose to take up any job and earn a living, and not be forced to work in the fields. Some people who are able to afford the education do so, but those like my parents who face financial difficulties cannot educate their children. I think there should be no child-marriages. A girl should only get married after she has completed her higher education, and is able to stand on her feet and support herself. In my life, there is a never a moment when I do not feel bad about not having continued my education. Especially when I see other women surge ahead, it pinches me. I have an older brother who is well educated. Being a boy, it was imperative that he should be educated. As a girl, it was not necessary for me. My message to all parents would be that parents should let their daughters study till when she wants to, and get her married whenever she is ready to do so. I want to tell them that their girl’s lives should not be like mine.”
