“Back in my early teens, one of my childhood friends got married. We were kids and knew nothing about marriage. All we cared about was school and academics. I remember asking her mother why she didn’t let her child study. She said they couldn’t afford education and her to-be-husband had promised to take care of the whole family. Although I was young and came from a rural background, it struck me that it was wrong to force anybody into marriage at a tender age like that. Fortunately, my parents were always keen on getting me educated. We didn’t have much finances, but they still got me into a residential school in Hyderabad, after class 10. They spent all that they had on visiting me and buying me books. I was always into academics and also had good values, I’d like to believe. But it was an incident in my third year of engineering that really affected me. My dad and I met with an accident because of somebody else’s reckless driving. I was on the way to an interview. I really wanted that job! It would help my family and would also set an example for so many girls back in my village. Their parents would look at my life and let them go to school. So I attended the interview on the same day after first aid. I got the job but I still wasn’t satisfied. I kept thinking about so many other drivers who are careless on the road and it affects someone else. That’s when I decided to volunteer to help Traffic Police. After my shift everyday, I spend a few hours on the road as a Traffic volunteer. It gets challenging, even more because you’re a woman. But I’ve always been determined, though some call me stubborn. I don’t want people to get away by paying some fine. It’s important they understand why these rules are necessary. I also spend time in orphanages to talk to young girls and encourage them to study. Many of them think marriage is the only option, but that’s not true. It takes some talking to let them understand about independence and career. That’s the pledge I’ve taken – to bring that change with whatever I can do.”

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