Sonal Shinde
Sonal Shinde studies in Zilla Parishad Primary School No. 1 in Nachane Village in Ratnagiri district in Maharashtra.
Sonal is her new name and there is an interesting story why her earlier name was changed.
Eight year old Sonal was the fourth child to her parents. Since all earlier children were daughters they were hoping for a son when the mother was pregnant the fourth time. Alas, a girl was born again. As it is common in societies, where girls are unwanted, a fourth girl is certainly unwelcomed. So she was named ‘Nakusa’, which literally means unwanted. It is customary in rural areas that a second, third or fourth daughter is named this way, which is clearly discriminatory. When the school and DIET authorities came across a number of such girls in their area, they decided to take steps to change the names. Nakusa Shinde became Sonal Shinde. This initiative has spread a positive message of gender equality.
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