To give you the statistics, India has the highest number of child brides in the world, and it is estimated that 47% of Indian girls are married before their 18th birthday!
For years young girls are being forcefully pushed into performing the “sacred” marriage rituals at the age when they should be studying and enjoying the many other child rights that our country’s law bestows upon them. And though many organizations have worked towards curbing this malpractice, their focus remained on preventing the child marriage from taking place, and little to nothing being done for the already wedded ‘child bride’.
So what about those innocent girls who have been married off by their parents, not only at an age impermissible by law but against their wishes, should they be left to live the brunt of their parents’ criminal and cruel act? Which is the question Dr. Kriti Bharti, a Social Activist and Rehabilitation Psychologist, has raised and chosen to address!
Kriti hails from Jodhpur, Rajasthan, and owing to her family background and traumatic childhood, she vowed to dedicate her life to save the lives of young children. “My father abandoned my mother, but she chose to continue with her pregnancy and raised me alone. In conservative Rajasthan, this was scandalous. My relatives wanted me aborted and couldn’t accept me, and the multiple life-changing consequences made me mature emotionally very soon. I chose psychology as a career so that I could protect children against emotional damage,” shared Kriti.
Born Kriti Chopra, she changed her surname to Bharti (“Daughter of India”) in 1999, and brought the country honour by making it to the Limca Book of Records for annulling the first child marriage in India. She then founded The Saarthi Trust in 2011, which works to help child brides get their marriages annulled, and has so far annulled 33 marriages and stopped more than 1000. For Kriti, Annulment of child marriages is as important a goal as Prevention.
Kriti has been recently nominated for the prestigious award of Youth Activist by CIVICUS (A World Alliance for Citizen Participation), and we contacted our old friend to congratulate her on this feat, and got more insights on her journey so far, and goals for the future!
On her nomination by CIVICUS
For the award of Youth Activist, they selected many names from across the world, and I am highly honoured to have been shortlisted in the final five, and her voice sharpened, I am proud to be representing India at an International platform.
CIVICUS is a global alliance of civil society organizations and activists, based out of Johannesburg, South Africa, and is dedicated to strengthening citizen action and civil society around the world.
On difference that her winning this award can bring to her cause
I want to win it for my country, but more than that I want to win it for my girls. The recognition that this award holds will lead to more people knowing about the situation and its seriousness. When an issue gets discussed at global level, not only does the reach expand, but the probability of participation also increases, which is something that is highly needed.
And through IWB I’d like to thank all the people who have so far voted for me. I must acknowledge Singer Ankur Tewari, Musician Rochak Kohli, and Bahubali’s dialogue writer Manoj Munstahir’s support that I have received via their sharing the Twitter link.
You too can support Kriti and vote for her through the links given at the bottom of this article.
“It’s been a long journey, and I am still fighting alone..”
Before starting to work solely for the annulment of child marriage, I had worked with many NGOs that were dedicated to fight against the many prevalent child-exploitation issues, but I felt that the institution of ‘child marriage’ was one where children were being highly exploited in all the possible spheres. And with that view I laid the foundation of Saarthi Trust in 2011, and ever since I have been managing my single-woman army.
I did receive support from people around, but many stepped back, for which I cannot blame them as it is a cause that involves life threats. I have seen the thin line that exists between life and death multiple times now, but I understand that no one would want to risk their lives. And so the few volunteers prefer not to come in light.
Kriti was awarded her Ph.D. degree this year, and you need to read her views on the importance of education!
Education, I believe, is the biggest nourishment. I had to give up school after class four, and on resuming found myself in class ten, which happens to be one of the many unforeseen and undesirable events I have had to face in my life. So for a child who knew nothing better than ABCD in English, coping with the scary world of Math and Science was another struggle.
But who has ever known what destiny holds, while I had it decided not to study the said subjects ever again, I got first greeted by them in 11-12th and then again during graduation in Psychology. But things eased up with time, as I worked harder and thought less about excuses, and here I am, a Ph.D. in Rehabilitation Psychology, with plans to study further for as long as I can, and my work demands it too! (Whoa!)
On red spots on her radar map
The whole of India I’d say. No state is child-marriage-free, and Rajasthan is among the baton-holders. I started out of Jodhpur, my hometown, but have so far visited almost all the parts of the state, and the situation is no different anywhere. Same holds true for Bihar, where too, I have dealt with some cases. I don’t believe in territories, the victimized children need help everywhere.
In a recent annulment case, Facebook played a pioneering role in Kriti’s investigation. Speaking of which, she told us why it became one of the most complex situations she ever had to deal with!
It was a case of annulment in Barmer, which is about 300 km away from Jodhpur. I got a call for help from the girl herself and had to rush to the location at 4 am in the morning. Sushila was married at the age of 12 and last year her family decided to do her gauna (send off to in-law’s place) when she was 17. I managed to rescue her from the ceremony successfully, but the twist came when later at the court, the groom denied being married to the girl in front of the judge. The problem that appeared was that if the marriage had not taken place, there was no question of annulment!
Sushila’s father being involved in few legal cases himself had very smartly kept no evidences whatsoever. So I landed Sushila safe at a shelter home and set out to investigate. For a good period of time, I found nothing, but then it was through Facebook that I found the proof of their marriage ceremony through the boy’s decade-long posts. While the proceedings were on, I was constantly receiving threats from Sushila’s father, but with God’s grace I managed to surpass it all, and finally got her justice.
Sushila is currently completing her class twelve. I will never forget the moment when she first called me Maa.
Oh, so was Sushila the girl who wrote the “Only You” poem for you last Diwali? I asked.
Ah yes, did Facebook tell you that? (she asked in a happy tone) I share a close bond with all my girls, which is the beautiful side of my fight. Some of them see me as didi, but few, like Sushila call me maa, which is a very big thing as no one comes above a mother. I can’t describe my happiness when I now see them smile. I have received many awards in the past, but no trophy or recognition can match the satisfaction that their smiling faces bring for me.
That’s a glimpse of Kriti’s Facebook Page, which you must visit! Dr.Kriti Bharti’s Diary: A journey of Indian Activist of spreading smiles.
On help from Locals and Police
I have never got any support from the locals, neither verbally nor financially. There have been so many times when a mere word from them in the court could make it so much simpler to win justice for the child involved. But however much I would plead, no one would ever come forward.
As for Police, they may or may not support. And it is mostly when a marriage needs to be stopped from happening that the support of Police or administration is needed. When it is the case of annulment, I have to go by myself, followed by knocking the doors of Court next.
But what about the safety measures, your mother also lives with you, right?
Yes, my mother lives with me. And initially she didn’t approve of my social endeavors, because like every mother, she too wanted a handsome-paying job for her daughter’s personal and financial safety. And I ended up taking myself at a place where life and rape threats come along; destiny! But that being an unavoidable consequence, I do take proper safety measures for the both of us.
I can’t ignore my own safety, for if I’ll not be there, who will take care of my girls and the many children whom I still have to get relieved!
On managing the rehabilitation of the girls
Well, that also I have to do all by myself. Every case bears two perspectives, legal and rehabilitation. After having rescued the girl, I start to work on the legal annulment procedure, and alongside on their rehabilitation needs. Only in some situations does the girl have family support, so for most, I need to figure out their livelihood, shelter, education, and other daily requirements. You’ll be surprised, but given the reality, people offered me funds for opening an orphanage but gave a blatant no to help support the child brides.
I am hopeful but I don’t yet have infrastructural and other facilities for them, and so I either take them to my home or seek nearby shelter homes for the same. But other than the place of living also, there are many things that need to be taken care of, all of which I do personally.
Speaking about dreams for herself, Kriti said…
The term ‘dream’ single-mindedly reminds me of my goals! I have to uproot child marriage completely and wish to see the day when people will only be reading about the existence of its malpractice in books, and not witness. It has to see an end, the way Sati Practice did. And for that, I need to keep fighting and work even harder.
But when we stressed on the other term ‘herself’, she laughed lightly and hmmmed saying, are you hinting at marriage? And before we could clarify, tap came the answer! “Thankfully, our law has only set a lower limit for permissible age of marriage, and not upper, so I have all the right to wait for the perfect time and person!”
And on that note, we wished Kriti all the luck, but before we bid adieu, she left with us an important message for you all!
It’s been 100 years that the evil practice of child marriage set its roots in our country, and though the fight to bring it to an end is live since 1929, but its reach has only expanded in the Independent India. Government has worked for prevention and spent resources too, but the situation has not seen much change, and it is annulment that is even more important. Child marriage as an issue leads to the isolation of all rights of a child, and so it is high time that we come together and work for uprooting it.
Kriti’s nomination for the Youth Activist Award seeks your support, and your vote. Below are the Facebook and Twitter links, please visit these links and vote for Kriti!