Bhiwani girl pursuing Ph.D in Italy hoists flag

Sat Singh

Tribune News Service

Bhiwani, August 16

This Independence Day was special for Payal Arora (24) pursuing Ph.D in Naples, Italy. She returned to her native village Baliyali to hoist the Tricolour at a function in the village school.

True to its theme “Beti ka salam, Rastra kay naam”, the state government ordered school principals and village panchayats to get the Tricolour hoisted from the most educated girls of villages. She will become the brand ambassador of the village for a year.

“I went to Italy in May 2014 to pursue my doctorate in geophysics. Before that, I used to participate in the school’s Independence Day function but never knew that one day I will be given a chance to hoist the Tricolour in front of my elders and teachers,” said Payal, one of the four daughters of Jagdish Kumar Arora.

Jagdish, a farmer, said: “Payal adjusted her holidays to celebrate Independence Day with us. She reached India on August 7. On learning about her return, school headmaster Ramesh Kumar sent out an invitation to her to hoist the flag at the function.”

Elated over being chosen as the brand ambassador of the village, she said: “Love for one’s country can never fade. It rather grows when one goes away from the country. I feel humbled and responsible after being given the chance to motivate girls to make it big in life.”

She completed her graduation from Adarsh Government Women’s College, Bhiwani, and post-graduation from Kurukshetra University.