A FIGHT TO THE FINISH

Gauramma is one of the many women who receive the annual prestigious 'Neeraja Bannet' award. In the year 1986, when a plane was hijacked , Neeraja Bannet, an air-hostess gave up her life to save the passengers. Her family, as a tribute to that noble woman, instituted an award that saluted all the courageous women in India. This year, Gauramma was the recipient of the Neeraja Bannet Award.

Gauramma's story is an extraordinary one. Schooled only till her 10th year, she was married away to a police-officer named Mahadev. After the birth of her first child, a girl, her husband revealed his true colours. Gauramma was aghast when she learned of his extra-marital affair; but hse did not even imagine the fate that he had charted out for her. Insisting that she write a note saying,"Nobody's responsible for my death", he also made her sign it. Fearing for the worst, Gauramma fled to her parents' home, with her infant daughter.

Before going there, she filed a complaint against Mahadev in a police-station. The officers, all friends of Mahadev advised her to forget it saying that a woman's greatest asset is patience. Enraged, Gauramma vowed that somehow she'll find a way to punish her husband. In the meanwhile, Mahadev married Lakshmi, his paramour. Gauramma did not stand by idly. She talked to Lakshmi revealing the demon in her husband.

Mahadev too matched her efforts. He used her signatures to snap up Government lands given out to lower-caste communities.

Gauramma started in earnest to read a books on women's rights; in her duel against male chauvinism, she seeked the help of well-meaning lawyers who helped her in all her doubts. The police-officials, intrigued by the constant complaints lodged by Gauramma on Mahadev, started looking at the case from a more sympathetic angle.

Mahadev married yet again, this time to a girl named Jaya. Gauramma's tribulations did not stop there. Even though she was officially separated, her estranged husband behaved like a beast. He attacked her whenever she stepped out.

Gauramma took refuge in "Vimochana", a women's support organisation. From there, she launched her righteous struggle gainst domestic violence and violation of women's right inside marriage. Gauramma struggled for nearly 10 years before she could make an impact.

She was naturally happy on receiving the 'Neeraja Bannet' award. She has also initiated protest-marches and prevented the act of dowry in the cases of more than 1000 women. Gauramma is the new epitome of woman power and is being looked upon with much respect by the police-officers and other women. Her only ambition is to bring up her daughter as a courageous police-officer to serve society and the causes of women.

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