Prisoner of silence

Born into a large family in Kenapara, Surguja district, a 14-year-old Sonabai was married off to a much older man called Holi Ram in the village of Puhputra (also known as Puhphutara), northwest of Rourkela. When they had a child 10 years after marriage, the family moved to a house on the outer edge of the village. Discouraged from venturing out of the house or talking to anybody, Sonabai remained isolated at home even as her builder-husband travelled for work. Sometimes she accompanied him to the fields, but he was a man of few words. “Even prisoners get to talk to other prisoners in jail,” Huyler remarked. Sonabai had no one. Like millions of women in India and around the world, she simply carried on with her life, cooking, cleaning and keeping house. But there was one thing she wanted: toys for her child.............Read more

Source web page: The Hindu