My mother encouraged me to go to school, though she herself had never gone. I studied up to 12th grade, then my marriage was arranged. I don’t know why I needed to be married at 16.  After marriage I could not go to class but I took the School Leaving Certificate exam and passed with almost 60%.  I had a baby at age 17. My husband works as a guard.  Luckily I have a supportive mother-in-law who takes care of my children. She had been a painter at the  Janakpur Women's Development Centre and she has inspired me. Now, at 24, my dream is to be an artist. 

(Biography Courtesy of Janakpur Women's Development Centre)