Beyond Padmavati: How Chittor’s Young Child Brides Brave the Odds

Usha* can easily pass off as someone much younger than her 18-year-old self. With a shy smile, inquisitive eyes, and vermillion on her forehead, she hesitantly raises her hand when asked who would find it difficult to pursue higher education.

At 17, Anju* firmly believes that men and women should be treated equally by law and stands by the concept of "justice for all." But when she was given a task to familiarise herself with the “duties” of a bahu, she wasn’t given a choice.