GURUGRAM: The 'International Day of the Girl Child', on Thursday, was commemorated in the city in an unique way, courtesy the high commission of Canada.
Bihar's Baby Kumari (21) was invited to don the role of the Canadian high commissioner to India for a day. As part of her activities, she visited Suncity School in the city, where she spoke about breaking gender stereotypes and the importance of educating girls.
Kumari's day started at the Canadian high commission in Chanakyapuri, New Delhi, where she was welcomed by staff at 8.30am. Her next assignment was to meet students of Suncity School, followed by a meeting with the women staff at the high commission. Speaking on the occasion, Canadian high commissioner Nadir Patel said, "International Day of the Girl Child gives us an opportunity to highlight the needs and rights of girls. This year, we are focussing on girls' education."
"I have never been to Canada, but I have seen on
YouTube that it's a beautiful country. I felt elated at being given an opportunity to become the high commissioner of Canada," Kumari said. She had successfully stopped her own marriage at 17, and has since been a crusader against child marriage in and around her village. She has repeatedly initiated police and legal action against those who act against the Child Marriage Act, and has been instrumental in conducting camps, sensitising families, reaching out to over 5,000 people. "I come from a poor family in Bihar. My father is a farmer. In 2013, when I was studying in Class IX, my father decided to get me married. I was adamant I didn't want to tie the knot with someone whom I had never met. So I stood up for myself," she said.
Kumari made a deal with her father that if she cleared her Class X exams, he wouldn't marry her off. "I cleared my exams and my father had to keep his promise. My parents are traditional and they considered me a liability," said Kumari.
In 2016, Kumari was elected community leader of her village in
Bhagalpur. She worked to spread the message of the importance of sanitation and girls' education. "I can proudly claim that today, almost 100% girls in my village are receiving higher secondary education," she added.
She said she is also determined to narrow down the gender divide. "I have three younger sisters and one younger brother, who are in school. What I did has set a tone for others to follow, including my siblings. My parents' thinking has also changed. They don't plan on early marriages for my sisters now," she added. Kumari is studying at Bhagalpur University, and aspires to become a teacher. "I want to teach because in my village, there aren't many people who are educated," she said.