Educating a Girl, Educating Generations

I don’t remember how many forms I have filled out over the years.
School admissions, exam registrations, scholarship portals, and college applications. Uploading documents, checking details twice, and clicking submit. For me, these were routine tasks squeezed between everyday responsibilities. For her, each form was a step closer to a life she was determined to build.

Amisha Tigga, the daughter of our house help. From the very beginning, what stood out was not her circumstances, but her clarity. She wanted to study. And she never wavered.

She completed her schooling with quiet determination and went on to college, where she chose to pursue a degree in Information Technology. What impresses me most is not merely that she made it to college, but the way she approaches education- not as an obligation, but as empowerment. She has a scientific temperament, and it reflects in the way she observes, questions, or handles everyday situations.

Now, after getting into a renowned college in Ranchi, she did not slow down. Alongside her degree, she continues to upskill by enrolling in online skill certifications. Recently, she joined an online AI program offered by TCS. I find myself both amazed and quietly inspired by her curiosity, her ambition, the way she learns beyond the syllabus, beyond what is expected.

There was a moment when her journey could have taken a very different turn. Initially, she enrolled in an agricultural course, a choice influenced by her family’s background, at a renowned college. But the environment there was not kind enough. She faced bullying, and the lack of support from teachers made it harder to endure.

I was shocked to learn how the students behaved with her, and the teachers not only turned a blind eye but also blamed her. An unfortunate incident in a renowned college, I held in high regard. Though I suggested reporting the incident, she decided to leave. She did not want to waste her time and energy in the matter where nothing would work in her favour. She wanted to leave more because the course did not interest her, and she knew it was not where she belonged.

Walking away was not easy. A significant amount had already been paid, and the decision came with financial loss. Yet what stayed with me was her mother’s response. She did not dwell on the money. She simply chose to work harder, so her daughter could begin again. Amisha did not stop; she listened to her inner calling, changed streams and decided to pursue Information Technology.

In a world where many of us move with the herd, afraid to pause, reflect or ask if we are really doing what we love, she dared to begin again.

I often discuss her progress, along with that of her siblings, with her mother. She speaks with pride, mentioning how her daughters are doing even better than her youngest son. A determined woman herself, she works tirelessly, earning with one clear purpose: to ensure that her children receive the education she always believed could change their lives.

There is a saying we often hear:

“If you educate a man, you educate an individual, but if you educate a girl, you educate a generation.”

Watching her journey, I understand this more deeply. The confidence she carries today will not stop with her. It will ripple into the choices she makes, the family she builds, the children she raises, and the community she influences.

Her story is not an exception.

I saw the same spark during my time with the Robin Hood Army (RHA). RHA is a volunteer-driven organisation that works to fight hunger for the underprivileged and also provides education through initiatives like RHA Academy. I often noticed girls who always show up, not because someone forced them to, but because they wanted to learn.

These girls reminded me that motivation does not depend on privilege. What it needs is opportunity. A safe space. A community of support.

For me, observing National Girl Child Day on 24th January is more about reflecting, appreciating, and celebrating such beautiful, inspiring, and determined people in everyday moments.

So, when Every Conversation Matters (ECM) introduced the theme of the girl child, it gave me an opportunity to appreciate and applaud Amisha and countless girls like her, who are true images of women’s empowerment.

Educating a girl is not about saving her. It is about trusting her strength and investing in her potential. When we educate a girl, we are not just shaping one life—we are nurturing generations of thinkers, caregivers, leaders, and changemakers.

And sometimes, it all begins with a simple phrase—“yes, you can”—to nurture and sustain their dreams.

PS: This post is a part of ‘Voices of Her Blog Hop’ hosted by Manali Desai and Sukaina Majeed under #EveryConversationMatters blog hop series.

PS: This blog post is part of ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’ 
hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla in collaboration with Cerebration – Think with body, mind & soul.