Story of Anita Sawant

I am Anita Sawant, 50 years old, staying in Talavali village which is in Ratnagiri district of
Maharashtra. I have been staying here for the past 30 years of my life. I moved to this place
after my marriage. We used to live in a joint family till most of the couples in our family had
kids. We were a huge family of 20 people.

We would celebrate all festivals, birthdays and anniversaries together. We did not have a
concept of going out for celebrations, everything wholly and solely was done in our house
only. All the men of the family would go to everyone’s house and celebrate the festival and
women of each house would stay back to welcome them. So for Ganapati festival people
would come to our place at 2am also as our house was last on the lane. On birthdays, we
would do aukshan (diya in a plate and move it round the face) and the person’s favourite
sweet dish is made. Having a sweet dish is like having something extraordinary which the
other person in the family doesn't have on that specific day. Everyone in the family would get
new clothes twice a year only, once on their birthdays and other on Diwali or Gudi Padwa
(Maharashtrian New Year) depending on which month they have their birthdays so that they
don’t get two clothes during the same time of the year.

I was born in a village called Karul same area as Talavali. I have 2 sister and 2 brothers, I
was the oldest daughter so I had to help my mother with  all the household work. I have
studied only till 4th std. So I couldn’t get a job. Due to financial problems in my family I could
not study further even if I wanted to. I was married off to Rajesh Sawant (husband) when I
was 17 years of age and had my son at the age of 19. I feel like my parents married me off
pretty late as most of my friends got married by the age of 14. I work on our family farm with
my sisters-in-law. We grow rice in one field and some seasonal crops in another. My
husband helped me raise our son together. He would take us out even if it was like going to
the nearby temple or attending the village fair. He taught our son that men and women are
equal and you should not believe one is below the other though our whole family believes
that. 

As I have not completed my education I want my son to complete his studies. My son
completed his education till 12th std in the school which was in our village. Recently, he
shifted to Mumbai as he got a job in the city. He has done an electronics diploma from ITI
college, Mumbai. I want my future daughter-in-law also to be working even though my family
does not support women staying away from house for long hours.

What I have learnt is people like Anita have to struggle a lot in their lives. They have to do
everything how their family likes it. After marriage they rarely visit their birth parents' house.
Even at the age of 50 she more fit then I am. 

Akshata Virkar

ADMA – B
Roll No. - 49