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unfortunate, but it was not celebrated either. When Santosh was to be
born, a saint, assuming that Santosh’s mother wanted a son, blessed
her that she would beget a son. As she already had five sons, Santosh’s
grandmother said to the saint that they did not want a son. The saint was
amazed to hear this and blessed her alternatively. The blessing turned
into a reality as Santosh was born. She was the youngest child, a sister
to five brothers. Santosh was born in a village named Joniyawas in
Rewari district of Haryana.

The girl was given the name „Santosh‟, which means contentment. But
Santosh was not always content with her place in a traditional way of
life. She began living life on her own terms from the start. Where other
girls wore traditional Indian dresses, Santosh preferred shorts. Looking
back, she says now, “From the very beginning I was quite determined
that if I chose a correct and a rational path, the others around me had to
change, not me.”

Contentment: satisfaction

Although Santosh’s name means contentment, she was dissatisfied with
the traditional way of life. From a young age, she started living life on her
own terms. While other girls wore traditional Indian dresses like salwar
kameez, she preferred wearing shorts. Santosh recollects that from
childhood, she was determined to live life according to what she felt was
right for her. If she was right in her way, then others would have to
change their way and not her.

Santosh‟s parents were affluent landowners who could afford to send
their children to the best schools, even to the country‟s capital, New
Delhi, which was quite close by. But, in line with the prevailing custom in
the family, Santosh had to make do with the local village school. So, she
decided to fight the system in her own quiet way when the right moment
arrived. And the right moment came when she turned sixteen. At
sixteen, most of the girls in her village used to get married. Santosh was
also under pressure from her parents to do the same.

Affluent: well - to - do
In line with: following or in accordance with, according to
Custom: tradition

Santosh’s parents owned land and were wealthy. They could even afford
the money to send their children to study in schools in Delhi which was
near their village. Still, due to the prevailing customs, they decided to
send Santosh to a school in the village. Santosh decided that she had to
take her own path when the right time cam. At the age of sixteen, as