The Right to Education for Every Girl

At midday, the lunch bell rang at my high school. I stepped out of the classroom and went to sit in the school playground. Since I studied in a girls' high school, the field was full of girls chatting, walking around, or sitting in groups. Teachers were gathered in the staff room having their lunches, and some of the school workers were busy sweeping the floors.

My friend Vibha came over and sat beside me. We both opened our lunchboxes and started eating.

Vibha looked thoughtful and said, "Chetna, do you know what? After high school, I’m going to stay home and help my mother."

I was surprised and asked, "Why, Vibha? You’re so good at studies, and you love learning. Why would you stop?"

Then I added, "You wanted to be a district magistrate? Wasn't it your dream to help girls and women?"

She looked at me and said, "Yes, it was my dream.

Then he sighed and added, "No one in my family is educated. My grandmother says that if I study too much, it will be difficult for my parents to find a groom for me."

I frowned and asked, "So your parents are planning to marry you off after high school?"

She nodded sadly. "I think so. They’ve already started looking for a groom."

I looked at her closely and asked, "Does that make you sad?"

"Yes," she admitted softly.

Her eyes were red from tears, yet she held them back. She was pretending everything was okay.

"Can’t you talk to your parents?" I suggested. "Maybe ask them to let you study until college?"

She shook her head. "They won’t listen. They’re too worried about what society will say."

The bell rang, signaling the end of lunch break. Vibha and I packed up our lunchboxes and walked back to the classroom together.

A month later, the high school results were announced. Vibha had done incredibly well, and she got third place among about 600 students! I wanted to congratulate her, but I didn’t have her phone number. I hoped I’d see her again soon.

Six months passed, and one day a mutual friend told me that Vibha had gotten married. My heart sank. She had so much potential, but her dreams were cut short because of societal expectations.

In India, many girls like Vibha are not given the opportunity to pursue higher education because they are married off at an early age. If we want to see real progress in society, it’s essential to create opportunities for all children, boys and girls alike, to be educated and follow their dreams. Education should never be a privilege; it should be a right for everyone.