Pardada Pardadi Feature Story: Sakshi Chauhan on family, newspapers, and falling from trees

Today I had the opportunity to sit down with 17-year-old Sakshi Chauhan. Sakshi is so full of energy and life that it’s impossible not to succumb to the happiness surrounding her. She has an air of confidence not common in a girl her age. Then again, so do most of the girls attending Pardada Pardadi Educational Society (PPES).

The days I spend with the girls at the school are a privilege. On the surface many are shy, and display a hyper-politeness common in the women of their rural Indian culture. Let them settle in a little, however, and you will quickly sense their love of life, see their unabridged imagination, and hear the ambition in their voice.

Sakshi, for example, was awarded a school leadership honor last week just before our interview. She is the first woman of her family to pursue higher education, and does it with a grace which assumes she will achieve anything she puts her mind to. This fact alone has created an inspiration so strong that her aunt’s dying wish was for her girls to follow in the footsteps of their cousin by attending Pardada Pardadi.

*** INTERVIEW START ***

Jake: Would you tell me a little about yourself and your family?

Sakshi: I am the daughter of a farmer and housewife. My older brother completed up to the 12th grade in a private school and my younger sister attends PPES, where I’m currently in 12th grade.

I’m originally from a small village called Godhana, not far from Jahangirabad. Through the support of my family, I (along with my family) moved to Anupshahr just so I could attend PPES.

J: How has your life changed since coming to PPES?

S: I discovered many new subjects since coming to PPES, and beyond that found out many things about myself. Through the sciencestream curriculum at the school I engaged with subjects like health and biology. This led to a growing interest in this area and I am thrilled now to pursue nursing.

J: What interests or hobbies do you have beyond school?

S: I read the newspaper every day.

J: Every day?

S: (Shakes head vigorously) Yes, I want to stay current with what’s happening in India and the world. I think that is one of the most important things we can do. The information is all there if we are willing to read about it.

J: What else do you like?

S: When I was younger, I liked cooking. Now, not so much. Though over time I have learned that I love to help others. I think it’s the service to others which has attracted me so much to nursing.

J: What are some challenges you’ve had to deal with and overcome?

S: In India there is a belief that there is no need for women to attend higher study. This is a challenge I still face every day, but I am lucky to have a family who supports me and encourages me to pursue education regardless. By having my parents behind me as support, I feel like I can do anything. Still, there are so many people who do not understand that I want to have the same opportunities to reach my potential as everyone else.

J: Who are some role models or people who inspire you?

S: Teachers and sisters who have come and studied and graduated show me that this path is possible even though it is difficult. In India, we call these older girls our sisters, the word in Hindi is Didi. I feel extremely inspired from the Didi’s who are now doing more than women could ever do before thanks to their courage.

J: Can you tell me a funny story about yourself?

S: I remember a day when I was younger, playing outside with some of my cousins and friends during a recess break back in government school (before PPES). I never much liked climbing trees, but I remember all the others did, and one day they convinced me that I should too. So, I climbed the tree with them and at some point, I realized I was all alone. We had started to climb up together and, before I realized, I had climbed high and then all of the sudden, there was no one, just me. I was scared when I saw them all below looking up. I remember thinking that I just needed to get down and then I would never do this again. I tried stepping slowly onto the branch below, and then my leg slipped, and I fell. In a second, I landed on the ground. I remember hearing the gasps the everyone around and thinking I must looked so broken. The strange thing was that nothing hurt, and I realized somehow the fall had not been so bad and I was completely fine. I thought about this for a moment as I lay there and wait for the others. This is when I decided I would not get up right away or open my eyes. I would lay there and let them think I was very hurt because they made me climb the tree when I didn’t want to. All the other were rushing over to me asking, ‘Sakshi! Sakshi! Are you okay?’ After a moment I heard them say, ‘Go get her some candies and some books to wake her up. Get her the things she likes!’ I had to try very hard not to smile. So they brought me candies and books and the things I like and after some more moments I slowly opened my eyes and was happy after all about having climbed the tree.

J: What are you most excited about doing in the future?

S: Of course I am excited about graduating and furthering my learning in a job, especially in the field of nursing and in a new place like the United States. I am also excited to explore some new hobbies and passions that I haven’t had time for while studying. Things like photography and music. I think learning these things will help me express myself even more in a creative way and connect with more kinds of people.

We depend on donations to educate and empower girls like Sakshi at Pardada Pardadi. Please donate here if you’d like to help empower girls and change the world!

e opportunity to sit down with 17-year-old Sakshi Chauhan. Sakshi is so full of energy and life that it’s impossible not to succumb to the happiness surrounding her. She has an air of confidence not common in a girl her age. Then again, so do most of the girls attending Pardada Pardadi Educational Society (PPES).

The days I spend with the girls at the school are a privilege. On the surface many are shy, and display a hyper-politeness common in the women of their rural Indian culture. Let them settle in a little, however, and you will quickly sense their love of life, see their unabridged imagination, and hear the ambition in their voice.

Sakshi, for example, was awarded a school leadership honor last week just before our interview. She is the first woman of her family to pursue higher education, and does it with a grace which assumes she will achieve anything she puts her mind to. This fact alone has created an inspiration so strong that her aunt’s dying wish was for her girls to follow in the footsteps of their cousin by attending Pardada Pardadi.

*** INTERVIEW START ***

Jake: Would you tell me a little about yourself and your family?

Sakshi: I am the daughter of a farmer and housewife. My older brother completed up to the 12th grade in a private school and my younger sister attends PPES, where I’m currently in 12th grade.

I’m originally from a small village called Godhana, not far from Jahangirabad. Through the support of my family, I (along with my family) moved to Anupshahr just so I could attend PPES.

J: How has your life changed since coming to PPES?

S: I discovered many new subjects since coming to PPES, and beyond that found out many things about myself. Through the sciencestream curriculum at the school I engaged with subjects like health and biology. This led to a growing interest in this area and I am thrilled now to pursue nursing.

J: What interests or hobbies do you have beyond school?

S: I read the newspaper every day.

J: Every day?

S: (Shakes head vigorously) Yes, I want to stay current with what’s happening in India and the world. I think that is one of the most important things we can do. The information is all there if we are willing to read about it.

J: What else do you like?

S: When I was younger, I liked cooking. Now, not so much. Though over time I have learned that I love to help others. I think it’s the service to others which has attracted me so much to nursing.

J: What are some challenges you’ve had to deal with and overcome?

S: In India there is a belief that there is no need for women to attend higher study. This is a challenge I still face every day, but I am lucky to have a family who supports me and encourages me to pursue education regardless. By having my parents behind me as support, I feel like I can do anything. Still, there are so many people who do not understand that I want to have the same opportunities to reach my potential as everyone else.

J: Who are some role models or people who inspire you?

S: Teachers and sisters who have come and studied and graduated show me that this path is possible even though it is difficult. In India, we call these older girls our sisters, the word in Hindi is Didi. I feel extremely inspired from the Didi’s who are now doing more than women could ever do before thanks to their courage.

J: Can you tell me a funny story about yourself?

S: I remember a day when I was younger, playing outside with some of my cousins and friends during a recess break back in government school (before PPES). I never much liked climbing trees, but I remember all the others did, and one day they convinced me that I should too. So, I climbed the tree with them and at some point, I realized I was all alone. We had started to climb up together and, before I realized, I had climbed high and then all of the sudden, there was no one, just me. I was scared when I saw them all below looking up. I remember thinking that I just needed to get down and then I would never do this again. I tried stepping slowly onto the branch below, and then my leg slipped, and I fell. In a second, I landed on the ground. I remember hearing the gasps the everyone around and thinking I must looked so broken. The strange thing was that nothing hurt, and I realized somehow the fall had not been so bad and I was completely fine. I thought about this for a moment as I lay there and wait for the others. This is when I decided I would not get up right away or open my eyes. I would lay there and let them think I was very hurt because they made me climb the tree when I didn’t want to. All the other were rushing over to me asking, ‘Sakshi! Sakshi! Are you okay?’ After a moment I heard them say, ‘Go get her some candies and some books to wake her up. Get her the things she likes!’ I had to try very hard not to smile. So they brought me candies and books and the things I like and after some more moments I slowly opened my eyes and was happy after all about having climbed the tree.

J: What are you most excited about doing in the future?

S: Of course I am excited about graduating and furthering my learning in a job, especially in the field of nursing and in a new place like the United States. I am also excited to explore some new hobbies and passions that I haven’t had time for while studying. Things like photography and music. I think learning these things will help me express myself even more in a creative way and connect with more kinds of people.

We depend on donations to educate and empower girls like Sakshi at Pardada Pardadi. Please donate here if you’d like to help empower girls and change the world!