“Voice” is just a five-letter word to many. But sometimes, these five letters carry the power to break silence, challenge injustice, and stir change. Sometimes, a voice doesn’t just echo, it moves mountains. I’m Laxmi, a girl from a quiet, traditional village where most lives follow the same path: early responsibilities, silent sacrifices, and little freedom. But my journey began differently. I was the only child of two educated, supportive parents who raised me with values that weren’t common in our surroundings: independence, courage, and the strength to speak up.But not everyone around me had that privilege.
One of my closest friends disappeared from school after our 9th exams. At first, we thought she was unwell or away. But as days turned into weeks, worry grew. Two friends and I decided to visit her.Her home stood on the village’s outskirts fragile and forgotten. She stepped out, her eyes swollen, her face pale and then, in a trembling whisper, she said“They’re forcing me to marry… I don’t even know him, I’m just sixteen.” Before we could speak, her father arrived drunk, violent, and loud. He began shouting, throwing things, and tried to strike her.I was terrified. But something inside me pushed back harder than the fear.I stepped in front of her and shouted with everything I had:
“STOP! Stay away from her!”He froze.
I grabbed her hand and walked straight home. My parents didn’t hesitate, they stood by me like a shield. We reported the abuse and helped her get into a girls’ school supported by an NGO. Today, that same friend is studying BSc Nursing in a nearby town. She’s free. She’s healing. She’s building the life she dreamed of and I? I discovered something powerful that day.
Voice isn’t just sound.
Voice is strength.
Voice is resistance.
Voice is action.
Voice is change
And when used with courage It can truly move mountains.
By- Laxmi Atkari
BCA 2024-2028