The story of Bihar’s Punita Kumari:
Punita Kumari’s life is a remarkable example of determination. She balanced responsibilities like sending her children to school, caring for her husband and in-laws, protecting her family’s reputation, and yet, following her own dreams.
Despite taunts from neighbors claiming her children lacked maternal attention because she was “too educated” and occasional complaints from her own kids about having to study, she never lost focus. Married in 1997, she overcame years of struggle and, in 2018, achieved her goal by cracking the BPSC exam to become an Assistant Commissioner in Bihar’s State Tax Department.
Early Life and Education:
Punita hails from Supaul district—considered one of Bihar’s least developed areas in terms of education. She attended Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, completing her schooling from grades 6 to 12. In her childhood, societal norms encouraged early marriage for girls, but she defied expectations by passing a competitive exam in primary school, which motivated her to keep studying.
Coming from a humble background—her father was a laborer—Punita’s family faced familiar struggles common to girls’ education in rural India.
Punita Kumari Marriage and New Challenges:
Punita was married soon after finishing high school. “All my dreams of becoming a doctor or engineer were cut short,” she recalls. As a housewife, she managed household duties, social obligations, and family events, but her schooling at Navodaya Vidyalaya had instilled in her the belief that life could be more.
Her mindset was much like the river in a poem by Balakrishna Rao—always seeking a path forward, looking for freedom and self-expression. Even without formal opportunities, she dreamt of something bigger.
Bihar women education 2025:
While raising two children, Punita managed to complete her BA from BN Mandal University in the mid-2010s, alongside pursuing journalism. She also applied for para-judicial staff positions through the High Court, got selected, and joined the judiciary.
Life became a constant balancing act—managing three children, working long hours in court, supporting her husband, and meeting societal expectations, all while preparing for competitive exams.
Punita Kumari Struggle:
Her judiciary work started early in the morning and often ended at night. A typical day meant waking up at 4 AM, doing chores, attending work until evening, cooking dinner, putting her children to bed, and then studying late into the night.
With unyielding discipline, she even planned her next day’s study schedule before sleeping. On particularly intense nights, she would wake at 1:30 or 2:00 AM to solve problems bothering her. Between 2012 and 2018, she endured countless sleepless nights, pouring over books to improve her knowledge.
Read More: Punita Kumari Life journey.
Social Criticism and Perseverance
Neighbors criticized her for working outside the home while her children were alone, but she believed in maintaining a crucial balance—building her children’s future while pursuing her own goals. She also made sure to personally teach her children history and geography, reinforcing their education at home.
By 2018, her children’s achievements proved her efforts worthwhile. Punita saw maturity and transformation in them, and in herself, that pushed her to attempt multiple competitive exams. She ultimately succeeded in the BPSC.
Lessons from Her Journey:
Punita still remembers the journey from her home to the civil court in Purnia—a literal and symbolic path filled with obstacles. She uses her life story to emphasize the importance of girls seeing themselves as students before anything else. “Girls must work just as hard at home and outside,” she says, “and should never feel they are less than boys.”
Her story breaks the stereotype that child marriage or difficult family obligations should end a woman’s ambitions.
Conclusion:
From a young bride in rural Bihar to an assistant commissioner, Punita Kumari’s journey is one of grit and conviction. She proves that with willpower, education, and relentless hard work, women can rise above societal limitations and turn their dreams into reality.
She continues to inspire girls to believe in themselves and challenge the norms that seek to hold them back.
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