Tough times never last, tough women do

Cracking exams for coveted government jobs and topping them could hardly be the only measurement of one’s brilliance or intellectual depth. What lends significance to toppers is their conviction and persistence to excel in a field where they want to prove a point. In case of Haryana, women are repeatedly challenging the stereotypes: Sakshi Malik did it in Rio Olympics last month. And a few days back in the Haryana Civil Services exam results, Jhajjar’s Shweta Suhag and Hisar’s Shashi Vasundhra reinforced the same belief: in the state notorious for a low gender ratio, women can be best if they decide to, no matter what their circumstances are.

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Last year, when Army Chief, Dalbir Singh Suhag, came to his native village Bishaan in Jhajjar, he told villagers that he wanted to see village girls working as top officers. One of the girls listening to him was Shweta Suhag, a 24-year-old science graduate in zoology. Within months, Shweta accomplished her mission: she topped the HCS examination. She is Bishaan’s newest pride. The villagers recently honoured Shweta’s father, Rakesh, and grandfather, Jagdish, by presenting them pagris (turbans). “I want to see Bishaan girls moving ahead in different fields for which I am ready to help,” said Shweta. Daughter of a clerk with Haryana Roadways, Shweta did her preparatory study from Sonepat’s Bisana village. Her family shifted to Rohtak from where she completed her senior secondary. Then she went to Delhi to pursue BSc in zoology from Delhi University besides a two-year course in human rights.

For Hisar’s Shashi Vasundhra, ranked 12th in the HCS exams, the selection has a deeper meaning. She has carried forward the legacy of her late mother and other women in the family. 

“My mother, Shashi Kanta, was the first women sub-divisional magistrate from the SC community. I was 10 when I lost my mother to cancer,” says Vasundhra.

“Though we didn’t see much of our mother, I along with my younger sister, Shashi Himshikha, grew up listening to her stories of honesty and courage.” This stood her in good stead when she couldn’t make it for the HCS in the first attempt.

“My mother played a crucial role in enforcing liquor ban in Sonepat where she was posted. In a male-dominated society, my mother never underestimated herself and expected a similar attitude from us,” says Shashi. Soon after Vasundhra’s mother passed away, there was some uncertainty in the family over the girls’ future. But their maternal aunt, Nirmala Sarhadi, adopted both of them and ensured they got good education and upbringing. 

Vasundhra is MSc (zoology) and currently pursing LLB from Panjab University, while her sister, a master of law, is preparing for state civil services (judiciary). As a constant reminder to the girls about their mother, her aunt prefixed the first name of her sister ‘Shashi’ to their names.

“In our society, the stress has always been on carrying on the legacy of men. But I wanted Vasundhra and her sister to take forward from where their mother left,” says Sarhadi. Vasundhra now wants to work for the marginalized and vulnerable section of society, especially women and children. 

“It hurts me to see that our state has the worst gender ratio in the country. As an officer, I will ensure we get rid of the tag and women get their due place,” says Vasundhra.