Interview: From Mumbai’s Jhopadpatis to JNU and then onward to America, the extraordinary story of Sarita Mali’s journeys of struggle

"If you are a woman and belong to the oppressed castes, your struggle becomes double," Sarita

Delhi— "The development of any society depends on the promotion of education in that society," is a statement made by Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar. Today, this assertion has been fulfilled by Sarita Mali of JNU [Jawaharlal Nehru University]. On the basis of her educational credentials, a girl who grew up in a Jhuggi [shack] in Mumbai is going to do a double Ph.D. at the University of California, USA. Sarita talked to The Mooknayak's team about her journey through education. Come, let's find out more about her struggle.

It is only through education that life will improve

Sarita met us in JNU. Over a long conversation, we attempted to learn more about the struggles she had gone through in her life. Recalling her childhood days, Saritatells us that she was born in a Jhuggi in Mumbai, and it was from that Jhuggi that she has attained every achievement of life. Yes, it is true that one faces many difficulties living there, but after even achieving one step in one's goal, all these problems start to seem somewhat less.

She says, "When a family moves from one state to another, they encounter all kinds of challenges. Especially in a state like Maharashtra – where people from UP [Uttar Pradesh] or Bihar are not looked down upon. Despite this, if you are from a marginalized community, you cannot have much hope for a decent life. It was the same with us: living in a Jhuggi, selling flowers, studying in a government school, this was my lot too. But coming to JNU completely changed my life."

My parents recognized that only education could lift us out of this poverty, Sarita continues. That's why my father always used to say, get an education, otherwise, you also will end up selling flowers. He had seen the power of education in his village, she explains. He noticed that some people from the "upper" [oppressor] castes were doing PhDs and some were doing MBBS. So he had always been convinced that it was only with education that one could achieve everything and the inequalities that are widespread in society could be reduced. "It was because of this conviction of his that my father paid special attention to our education. So that we could move forwards."

We never knew what time would dinner be

Sarita says that our whole family was involved in the work of selling flowers. My father used to bring flowers, and together with my mother, we would all help get them ready, after which they would be sold at traffic signal junctions. This work was performed every day in our house, this was the daily routine in which we lived our lives. And besides this work that we did every day, at festivals, all of us would sell the flowers at the traffic signals. There was nothing like"dinner time" for us – when it was dinner time for other people, it was our time to prepare the flowers. The biggest reason for this was that if we didn't prepare the flowers at night, what would my father sell in the morning? And if he didn't sell any flowers, how would we eat that day? As she tells us these details of her life, Sarita becomes a little emotional.

Going to the library was the most important

Sarita reiterates that her family had always been acutely aware of the role of education. My father didn't study much while my mother finished up to grade 8. But they both had a deep understanding of the importance of education. That's why, she says, since the beginning, we were strongly encouraged to become educated. I attended a government school in Mumbai, and I had such a keen interest in studying that I didn't give more importance to any other task over it. Whereas it's often the case in every middle-class family that girls have to do the household chores, and we also had to do them. But I did not let this work come in the way of my education. And I was always very fond of reading. So as soon as it was time to go to the library, I used to drop everything else and rush to go there.

Talking about her struggle, Sarita says that when you come from such a community when you aren't considered any better than insects or spiders, then the journey from there to here becomes a very hard one. On top of this, when you live in a slum area of Mumbai, people have a low opinion of you anyway. Because anyone living in a slum at first always perceived withghṛṇā [disgust]. Also, it's believed that migrants from outside come here and make the area more crowded. In the midst of all these trying circumstances, I also had to deal with many financial hardships in my journey to reach here. Yet in all this, I have experienced that best feeling – that what my parents had dreamed of, I have managed to accomplish today.

JNU became my turning point

A relative inspired Sarita to apply to JNU, and getting admission to this university became a turning point in her life. Here, Sarita, along with receiving an education also lived those ideas that the Phules had once had envisioned for progress among the people of their society. But even with all this, she experienced all the challenges that tend to wear down people from oppressed communities. "We have to literally resort to snatching when it comes to accessing our freedom. We have to fight for all such things and have to seize them to have them. We don't have easy access to them. I too have had to fight for all these things," said Sarita.

During our conversation, Sarita proudly tells that she has been JNU's youngest research scholar. At a mere 28 years, Sarita has completed her Ph.D. in Hindi. She says that this journey wasn't that easy. In these eight years, where I have on one handled the JNU life, on the other hand, I have also had to hear the taunts of the people and society.

After a time, my family and relatives were subjected to all kinds of derisive comments, Sarita says. They would ask – what have you been doing in Delhi for eight years? Questioning the views of society, she says that being employed is the most important thing for her, and that is why they assume that I am not doing anything. But the truth is that Indian families do not have enough insight into higher education to be able to understand its importance. My parents, however, were always very aware of the significance of higher education. That is why behind all of this, my parents have always stood with me – the result of which is in front of all of us.

Sarita is always ready to stand up for the rights of women because, in today's time, women continue to be stopped from coming forward. Recalling her own travails, she says that, when you are first from an oppressed caste, and then you are also a woman, your journey becomes even more difficult. All these things caused me much mental trauma throughout my time here.

Women are judged by their skin color

While talking about the attitude of society towards women, Sarita says that a woman is always being judged, at all times, in every aspect. To the extent that she is valued by the degree of her beauty. I too experienced all these things. If a girl is dark-skinned and doesn't meet the so-called standards of beauty, then she is judged in all kinds of ways. At times this kind of social victimization takes a more devastating form. That is, to the extent that it can cause significant psychological harm. "We women are judged not only on the basis of our skin color but also based on our height and stature."

Sarita completed her entire education in Hindi, and even after winning a gold medal, she chose to study Hindi. People even judged me for taking up Hindi, she says.

I have been a gold medallist. When I opted to study Hindi, many people reprimanded me. To the extent that people used to say that only that person who fails to get into any other field chooses Hindi. But I wanted to study Hindi, I want to make it my life. So I applied myself to studying Hindi with this in mind, and today I am going to America on the basis of my Hindi scholarship. It isn't necessary, she continues, that what people think is the right thing should also be the right thing for you. Rather you should do what you think is right for you. In this way, you will reach the heights that you worked hard to attain.

Remembering Savitri Bai and Jotiba Phule, Sarita said, "Both represent the same vision. I also come from their own society, and I will always try to further promote and disseminate their ideologies. Today's time is a dark time. But by following the light that emanates from the ideologies of Babasaheb and the Phules, we can change society ."

Video Interview:

[Story Translated By Lotika Singha]

यहां हिंदी में भी पढ़ें: मुंबई की झोपड़पट्टी से JNU तक का सफ़र, अब JNU से अमेरिका का सफ़र, सरिता माली के संघर्ष की असाधारण दास्तां