Me, The Change: Here’s What the 10 Achievers Had to Say

At The Quint's 'Me, the Change' event, presented by Facebook India, on Thursday, 17 January, 10 incredible women spoke about issues that matter to them as first-time voters.

Acclaimed actor Taapsee Pannu felicitated the women achievers from across India – including a Santhali RJ, an international rugby player, a female dhol player from Punjab and a wrestler from Delhi – and spoke to them about their path-breaking stories.

Each achiever took the stage to talk about the battles they have fought and owned, and what keeps them going

Wrestler Divya Kakran also had something to say about breaking stereotypes – something she knows all too well since her wrestling career began with fighting boys in the akhaara. The Commonwealth Games medallist spoke about how she became a wrestler amidst financial constraints. Speaking about her father she said that instead of borrowing money for her marriage, he used it to make her a wrestler.

After Class 10 and 12, young girls are married off in my village. Families borrow money for their marriage. If they use that money to support their education, their career in sport or anything that they like......one day grooms’ families would happily pay dowries to marry these girls.

Divya Kakran, Wrestler 

Not caring about ‘log kya kahenge (what would people say)‘ was a constantly referred to during the event. Mariam Rauf, a child safety educator in Kerala and a child sexual abuse survivor, questioned why she should be ashamed about her experience. "When I finally confessed to my mother about the sexual abuse I had faced, instead of saying log kya kahenge, she told me go tell whoever I want."

All of the 10 women didn't just change their own worlds, but through their achievements, have proven to be an inspiration for so many others. Like Shikha Mandi, the only woman Santhali RJ in India, told The Quint: "Women from my area are asking me if they too can be RJs. They are thinking beyond sarkari naukris (government jobs). They now feel that they too can do their mann ki naukri (the job that they want).”