“ I live in Hatiya in Ranchi now. I would like to recount a bit of my life. My birth was a cause of despair for my father. He was devastated to hear that his wife had given birth to a girl. He began abusing her and there was utter disharmony and discontent at home. I grew up in an unhappy, insecure home and was faced with daily verbal abuse. To make matters worse, my father began drinking heavily. He began selling everything at home to sustain his drinking expenses. When I was in class nine (St Joseph’s School), my father’s condition deteriorated as a result of heavy drinking. He was admitted to a hospital. He recovered and my mother bore him four sons in quick succession. My father should have been happy. He was; but only briefly. He resumed his drinking and we children had to live with beatings, abuse and poverty. I somehow managed to complete school and college. After completing my BA, I got married; though I was determined not to marry seeing the discord at home. Though we were happy for six months, my husband died in a car accident. Life became unbearable after that. I attempted suicide. But when it did not work, I began looking for a motive in life. I found it in the work of allies of the ‘We Can’ campaign. I got involved in theatre. My work with the campaign has given me immense courage and self confidence. It has taught me that I should stand up to abuse and injustice and change my own attitudes. It has boosted my confidence and sense of self worth. I now help other women gain theirs as I know what it is worth.”