FAT and the changes in my life | फैट और मेरी जिंदगी के बदलाव

My name is Komal. I am doing an internship at FAT's Pune Tech Center. When I was asked if you would like to work with FAT, at first I was not happy but afraid of my family. We are told at home - We are three brothers. You do not have to go for a job. Women and girls are better at home. Going out will ruin you. That's why no girls in my family have ever thought of getting jobs. Because everyone is either afraid of the brothers or the family.

My family is very big. And all the boys and girls have completed their studies. But the boys are going to work and not the girls, because there is a limit set in the household - girls should stay at home. When I said that I wanted to work with FAT, everyone screamed at me, and the elder brother even slapped me. Then I asked my father. My father supported me. At that moment I decided in my mind that if I work with FAT, then I will have to do all my household work early in the morning so that my family does not get any chance to say that since I started working household chores are left out. I used to go to the Tech Center after completing all the work at home and was still always on time. Still many difficulties came. Shouting and yelling became an everyday habit.

I had to go to Delhi for training a few days after starting my internship, that too for 6 days. This was a great opportunity for me. It was very difficult when I had to tell my family that I had to go to Delhi. My father helped me in that too. The neighbors filled my mother's ears with many suspicions when they heard I was going to Delhi. Because my father allowed, I was able to go to Delhi, that too by airplane. It was a great opportunity for me. I never imagined that I would ever travel by airplane.

After this training, I started slowly to take classes. My first change was joining the girls and talking to them during classes because I otherwise do not speak much. But now many changes are visible in me. In the settlement I live in, I teach girls now, I bring girls to the Tech Center. At first, my identity was as my mother's daughter. But today, my identity is "Komal who teaches us computer". I was happy to see that an identity of my own was also forming.

I want to talk a bit about my family. Recently, when a Team Member told me that a retreat for FAT team is being organized, that too in Manali, followed by a training in Delhi, I was very excited. Manali is such a good place. But I was also aware that I will not be allowed to go. So I clearly told my colleague that I cannot come. After getting a lot of encouragement from my team member, one day I told in front of the whole family seeing the opportunity. I said that I have to go to Delhi, for training. When I shared about the retreat, all the people in my family started shouting at me. I did not say anything back, I wanted to hear what they were thinking. Speaking to the three brothers was very scary for me.

But I courageously put my words in front of them and explained to them. We have never even thought of going so far. But FAT is giving me this opportunity. So why should I let this opportunity go away? After a while one of my brothers said that you can go to Delhi for training. I was very happy and surprised that he allowed me to go to Delhi. And a lot of questions started coming in the mind too. Nevertheless, I re-told my brother that there is a retreat in Manali first. After that, there is a training in Delhi. He started thinking a little bit, but did not say anything.

When I was sleeping at night, the whole family talked about me and later they gave me a surprise. You can go to Manali! We never thought of going to such a place, if you are getting an opportunity then you should go. They said that we have such a big family. To this day our boys and girls have received so much education - even after that, they have never stepped out of the house. But you are going. It's a happy moment for us.

At that time I realized that there has been a change in my identity, respect and my thinking - and it came to me through FAT. Today, in my family, I am seen differently. I am very happy.

Often, the daily work we do is not valued. But on that day, the eldest and most important men of my house highlighted me in front of everyone and they said such good things about me, that too in relation to my work. It was surprising for me to see. And all this change came to me through FAT. If I had not associated with FAT, then I would have been very different today. My thinking would have been different, like a closed room.

- Komal
(Komal is an intern at FAT and manages the Pune Tech Center today)