National Girl Child Day is celebrated today and was commemorated by the Women and Child Development Ministry in 2008. The celebration of this day also reflects the successful emergence of girls and young women as a distinct group in development policy, programming, campaigning and research. This day supports more opportunity for girls and increases awareness of gender inequality faced by girls in India. The National Girl Child Day is celebrated by organizing various events all across the Country to promote the position of girls in today’s society. The Government of India organizes campaigns to increase the consciousness of people towards girl children in the Indian society.
Though various campaigns are held, today’s Indian society has not nudged the inferior thoughts about women, let alone a girl child. The Indian society has enhanced to an extent where many speak of saving a girl child but instead turn their backs when the screams for help are heard. It is nothing less than the one day patriotism during Republic and Independence Day. Though the Indian society still lacks respect for girls and views them as an object of pleasure, there are young girls who fought their way up to fame with nothing but their sheer hard work.
Here are a few female children who redefined the term prodigy:
Sushma Varma:
Sushma Varma, the daughter of a sanitation worker hails from the outskirts of Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh. At the age of 15, she created a record by completing her Master of Science (MSc) in Microbiology from the Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (BBAU.) At the age of 2, she recited the Ramayana at a school function and that’s when her abilities were discovered. Her brother Shailendra, a prodigy himself cleared class 10 at the age of nine. At the age of 5, Sushma used to read Shailendra’s school books. At the age of 7, Sushma was recognized by the Limca Book of Records for being the youngest student to pass the 10th standard.
Mohini Dey:
Mohini Dey is the daughter of renowned bass player Sujoy Dey and hails from Mumbai. Mohini’s interest inclined towards music at the age of 3. This child prodigy managed to master the bass at a very young age. By the age of 10, she started performing at concerts. Mohini Dey is called a prodigy by several musicians and artists. At the age of 19, India’s leading drummer Ranjit Barot took her under his care and taught her. She has collaborated with leading stars like Zakir Hussain, A. R. Rahman, Ravi Chary and Grammy winner Mike Stern. Mohini was also a part of the celebrated composer Quincy Jones 2017 tour.
Malavath Purna:
Malavath Purna was born in a family of agricultural laborers in Nizamabad, Telangana. She struggled her way through to reach the top. Malavath was one among the 150 children chosen for adventure sports by the Andhra Pradesh Social Welfare Residential Educational Institutions Society. Twenty of the lot were selected for the training program at the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute in Darjeeling. Only two took part in the Mount Everest expedition, Malavath being one of them. At the age of 13, Malavath became the youngest female to scale Mount Everest. Ladkiyan Kuch Bhi Kar Sakti Hain (girls can do anything) says Malavath. Malavath’s story inspired Rahul Bose to make a biopic about her which was released on the 31st of March, 2017.
Anavadya Deepak:
Anavadya Deepak is the youngest artist in Asia with over 4,500 line drawings and 35 paintings to her credit. Anavadya hails from Kottiyam in the Kollam district, Kerala and is a self taught artist who started drawing at the age of two and a half. By the age of 7, she started sketching cartoons and caricatures. Anavadya has conducted around 13 solo shows and seven instant caricature drawing programs. Most of her shows raised funds for cancer patients and for palliative and heart care patients. She can draw a caricature in 2 to 3 minutes and has been honored with numerous accolades and awards. Anavadya has inaugurated several art functions and was also featured in live television shows.
