“Farming is our ancestral practice and I have been doing this from my childhood. My wife and I start our day’s work at 4:00 a.m. I have to go out in the early morning and check on our farm and buffaloes. Our schedule varies depending on the season,

I come to the farm by 5:30 a.m and work without any regrets. My dream is to raise the standard of living of our family and send my children to good colleges. I didn’t have the opportunity to hold books. That’s why, I ensured my daughters have it. I want them to have the choice of doing what they want and what they dream of!

My daughter is currently pursuing her graduation. She is 18 now. The men and women in my village constantly advice me on how to raise her. They ask me to teach her all the household chores, so that she grows on to be become a good wife and a daughter-in-law. I don’t care to listen to them. My wife does teach her how to cook, not for her to spend her life in the kitchen but to know to feed herself in need.

Both men and women should know to cook. It is not a women’s job but it is a human being’s basic survival skill.

I am proud of my daughter. She is representing our district in the state-level category in Kabaddi and kho kho. Every time, I see her playing my eyes well up.

Even though I couldn’t do much on giving her the best training facilities, she had worked hard on her own to be in this position. I am working hard every day as I wish to see her represent in a higher level soon.At the end of the day, we are responsible for our children’s future, so I should be prepared to make her life better!”