Growing up in the narrow alleys Kamathipura, Sandhya Nair endured unrelenting bullying, humiliation, and torture from an early age, yet her journey from Kamathipura, Mumbai, to the University for Peace in Costa Rica is nothing short of extraordinary. According to The Better India, Sandhya was raised in Mumbai’s red-light district, Kamathipura, and is the daughter of a sex worker, which brought about her tremendous hardship and stigma throughout the course of her life. But her experience also demonstrates the transformational potential of education and guidance, as well as resilience. She received unwavering support from Kranti, an NGO dedicated to revolutionizing the lives of daughters of sex workers.
Sandhya spent a considerable portion of her life being bullied and discriminated against because of her mother’s profession. Her mother struggled to get her into a private school by hiding her job, fearing that being open about it would result in rejection. However, eventually, Sandhya’s life turned into a nightmare as the truth of her mother being a sex worker came to light. She suffered from intense bullying, which included harsh pranks from her classmates and insults for her skin colour.
“It started with bullying over my skin colour. They would call me different names, including a ‘black crow’ and more,” Sandhya told The Better India. The harassment progressed to the point where she was being humiliated by the teachers in the classroom and made to sit on a separate bench at the back. There was no relief at home. Sandhya was raped several times between the ages of 10 and 16, and her abuser threatened her that no one would believe her if she came forward and spoke about it.
When Sandhya relocated to Kerala in Class 10, she was able to escape the abuse and stigma, which brought about a huge change. But the pain from those early years followed her, affecting her academic performance and self-worth.
According to Better India, Sandhya’s Life took a total turn when she read a newspaper article about Shweta Katti, the first Indian girl from a red-light area to be awarded an international scholarship to Bard College in New York. Driven by inspiration, Sandhya contacted Robin Chaurasiya, who is a co-founder of Kranti, an NGO that empowers sex workers’ daughters. Robin persuaded her to join Kranti, and Sandhya embraced the opportunity. Sandhya’s life was completely changed by Kranti, which offers females between the ages of 12 and 21 housing, education, and support.
Sandhya is currently enrolled at the University for Peace in Costa Rica to pursue an MA in gender and peacebuilding. Her path from Kamathipura’s struggles to an international university serves as an effective example of how opportunities and the correct kind of support can transform people’s life. For girls from similar backgrounds, Sandhya’s narrative and many others at Kranti serve as an inspiration and catalyst for societal change.
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