“ I joined the campaign in 2007. I was a class 11 student at Barmer in Rajasthan then. I signed up as a Change Maker and my involvement with the campaign has been intense ever since. I did not know much about the issues that the campaign raises at that point. But my insights have grown over the years.

When I look back and see what I have gained from the campaign, I can say with confidence that I have earned confidence, faith in myself and freedom. Four years ago, I would dislike going out of the house or talk to people. I would restrict myself to the home and watch TV or read for entertainment. But the news that I got to read were always about atrocities committed on women. It used to upset me. My relatives too would talk of such things and this would further erode my confidence of going out or speaking to strangers. 

The circumstances at home also shaped my personality and made me aloof. I lost my brother when he was very young. This made the entire family sad and they began to believe that children should be kept away from them. They felt the closer the children were to them; the more they stood in danger of losing them. So I stayed with my grandparents and relatives homes all my life. It is only in the last few years that I am staying with my parents.

When I lived in Baroda as a child, my childhood friend, too, lost her brother in an accident. She became quiet after this and very reclusive. As she was my friend I too became like her. My parents would often berate me for such behaviour but I could not help it or change. I used to be sullen, withdrawn and anti social.

But after joining up the campaign, my personality began to flower. I became part of the street theatre troupe that took me places, opened me up to new situations and forced me to speak up. Then I was part of the volunteer trainings, awareness movement, connectors programme and meetings which helped me overcome my inhibitions.

My father initially opposed my going out. But later saw my point of view. Today, he supports my every decision. He has no objections to my going out alone, travelling by myself to other states and my true gain has been the self confidence that bubbles inside of me. I have been able to convince my family that I will not marry till I have made a mark in life. Another achievement or change that I witness within me is my ability to speak calmly now, without rancour. I put my point across calmly yet steadfastly. I have won over my teachers, like my friends, and have been able to convince them that our activities are social and not anti social. They have become sensitive to the campaign, its issues and also see the merits of students and teachers becoming associated with it. Now we have even taken the issue to colleges and staged plays during NSS programmes. Our efforts have been hugely appreciated. I personally organised a display of posters in colleges during the 16 day gender activism days and the issues of the campaign gained attention. Initially, I noticed that these posters were pulled down but our determined efforts to put them up again and again worked.”