Sudha Varghese

Sudha Varghese, also known as Sister Sudha, is a former

She is the chief executive officer of Nari Gunjan ("woman's voice"[4]), a not-for-profit organisation that provides education, literacy, vocational training, healthcare, advocacy and life skills for Dalit girls and women in Bihar. Nari Gunjan has 50 facilities with an overall enrolment of 1500 girls.^[5]

Varghese has stated that she draws inspiration from B. R. Ambedkar,^[6] a Dalit who fought against the concept of untouchability and was one of the drafters of the Constitution of India.

Early life

Varghese was born to a prosperous family in the Kottayam district of Kerala on 5 September 1949.^[7] In 1965, she moved to Bihar to work for the poor with the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur at their Academy.^[8][9] She trained there for a few years, during which she learned English and Hindi.^[10] She resigned from her job as a teacher in the convent,^[11] and in 1986 moved into a complex of mud and brick houses (tola) used by the lowest castes in India, to educate the Musahar.^[12][13]

From that time, she built schools and a home,

In her home, she convened a group of teenage girls, to whom she taught reading, writing, sewing, and embroidery.[19] Two years later, she opened five centres to teach girls "vocational training in nutrition, sanitation, and money management",^[20] the first of the Nari Gunjan facilities for Musahar girls. These centres also teach nursing and preliminary medical assistance, and other skills that are economically valuable.^[21] She had obtained funding from her parents, siblings, and the community.^[22] A UNICEF grant of a few thousand dollars allowed expansion to 50 centres.^[23]

She resided within the tola for 21 years.^[24] She returned briefly to the convent after being threatened by the parents of the perpetrators of an attack against Musahar boys; the victims had filed a police report, in part because of her teaching the Musahar about their rights.^[25]

Prerna schools

All their lives, they are told, 'You are the last. You are the least. You do not deserve to have.' They learn very fast to keep quiet, don't expect changes and don't ask for more.

— Sudha Varghese, ^[26]

In 2005 she moved to Patna, where she established a residential school named Prerna, a Hindi word meaning inspiration. It was in a building described as "half public latrine and half water-buffalo shed"^[27] in Lal Kothi, on the outskirts of Danapur. Restoration of the facility was made possible with government funding and volunteer donations and help. It opened in 2006.

It is an all-girls school designed to remove girls from farm labour to ensure they receive an education. Varghese also teaches about the

Each of the Prerna schools is non-denominational,[33] and includes calisthenics and art programs. The girls return home for public holidays, such as Dussehra, some of whom never return because their parents want to marry them before they become too old, despite legislation that outlaws such practices.^[34] Because of the long waiting list of girls to attend Prerna schools, the spots of the girls who do not return are filled quickly.

In addition to the standard curriculum, Prerna also teaches arts and dance, and hired a karate teacher. Varghese felt that karate would give the girls "more self-confidence, and also self-protection".^[35] The girls of Prerna Chhatravas became so proficient that they won five gold, five silver and 14 bronze medals at a competition in Gujarat in 2011, earning a trip to the Asian Junior Karate Championships in Japan,^[36] where they won seven trophies.^[37]

Awards

In 2006, Varghese was the recipient of the Padma Shri, a civilian honour awarded by the Government of India.^[38] In 2023, she was awarded with Jamnalal Bajaj Award, Sudha has been selected for rendering social service upholding Gandhian values.^[39]

See also

• Caste politics in India
• Padma Shri Awards (2000–2009)

Notes

References