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I was born in the wrong place, at the wrong time, to the wrong mother. But most of all, I was born the wrong gender. This is because my mother was a sex worker and I was born in Kamathipura, India’s most infamous red-light area.
In small brothels the size of an American bathroom, women were caged all day and let out during “business hours, I spent my days trying to avoid school and evenings trying to avoid pimps.
When I was banished to the back bench in school and bullied by the boys, I knew I couldn't stand up for myself - because I was a girl. When my male teachers started raping me, I knew I couldn't fight back - because I was a girl. When I attempted suicide thrice, I knew I couldn't go on - because I was a girl.
The sex workers always said education was the only way out of poverty, but school was a living hell for me: the place I felt most shamed, violated, and humiliated. So I quit going to school and started lying to my mother. I spent the entire school day wandering the nicer neighborhoods of Mumbai. It wasn't that I wanted fame and fortune… I just wanted a life free of discrimination, violence, and abuse.
At 16, I heard about a shelter home for girls from the red-light area. Weeks later, I moved into Kranti, an NGO which empowers survivors of trafficking and daughters of sex workers to become agents of social change. Along with education and healthcare, Kranti provides activities such as theater, workshops, travel, yoga, meditation, vocational skills, leadership training, and public speaking. Over several years at Kranti, I slowly healed from the traumas of my childhood.
I started giving speeches across India, sharing beautiful stories of the bravest, most courageous, and most resilient women in the world - Mumbai's sex workers. I opened up about my life story with the media; I debated sex workers' rights with journalists, activists, and politicians. Somewhere along this journey, it hit me one day… I was damn PROUD to be a girl!
In small brothels the size of an American bathroom, women were caged all day and let out during “business hours, I spent my days trying to avoid school and evenings trying to avoid pimps.
When I was banished to the back bench in school and bullied by the boys, I knew I couldn't stand up for myself - because I was a girl. When my male teachers started raping me, I knew I couldn't fight back - because I was a girl. When I attempted suicide thrice, I knew I couldn't go on - because I was a girl.
The sex workers always said education was the only way out of poverty, but school was a living hell for me: the place I felt most shamed, violated, and humiliated. So I quit going to school and started lying to my mother. I spent the entire school day wandering the nicer neighborhoods of Mumbai. It wasn't that I wanted fame and fortune… I just wanted a life free of discrimination, violence, and abuse.
At 16, I heard about a shelter home for girls from the red-light area. Weeks later, I moved into Kranti, an NGO which empowers survivors of trafficking and daughters of sex workers to become agents of social change. Along with education and healthcare, Kranti provides activities such as theater, workshops, travel, yoga, meditation, vocational skills, leadership training, and public speaking. Over several years at Kranti, I slowly healed from the traumas of my childhood.
I started giving speeches across India, sharing beautiful stories of the bravest, most courageous, and most resilient women in the world - Mumbai's sex workers. I opened up about my life story with the media; I debated sex workers' rights with journalists, activists, and politicians. Somewhere along this journey, it hit me one day… I was damn PROUD to be a girl!
https://youtu.be/DxF5uqlWMaA
When I finally felt ready for university at 22, I earned a full scholarship to one of India's most prestigious social science universities. In 2022, I graduated from Ashoka University with a BSc Honours in Psychology.
Now, I want to share the most exciting news of my life with you…I’ve been accepted to the United Nations University in Costa Rica for an MA in Gender & Peacebuilding! I was even given a huge scholarship, so my entire cost (housing included) for the MA program will only be US $20,000.
I need your help to make this MA possible, but in return, I promise you that I will dedicate my entire life to improving the lives of marginalized girls and women. Will you help me get there???
When I finally felt ready for university at 22, I earned a full scholarship to one of India's most prestigious social science universities. In 2022, I graduated from Ashoka University with a BSc Honours in Psychology.
Now, I want to share the most exciting news of my life with you…I’ve been accepted to the United Nations University in Costa Rica for an MA in Gender & Peacebuilding! I was even given a huge scholarship, so my entire cost (housing included) for the MA program will only be US $20,000.
I need your help to make this MA possible, but in return, I promise you that I will dedicate my entire life to improving the lives of marginalized girls and women. Will you help me get there???
