From The Shadows Of The Mountains: Life & struggles of a Jaunsari woman - Devika Chauhan

This is the story of a girl, who was born in the remote Chakrata hills (Himalayas), with a limp; She was the first graduate in Jaunsar in 1950s; She was the first woman form this region to join the State services, a male preserve in sixties and seventies - and she rose to become Director, Social Welfare. Her life captures struggles and joys of early Indian women, who were trying to step out of traditional gender roles in the society. Her story captures the Indian slant: while living life on her own terms, she never forgot her mother and other near and dear ones. She tries her best to strike a balance between seeking meaning and a purpose in life for her own self as well as reaching out to others. After retirement from the government job, she became active in Panchayat; was elected as Block Pramukh, Kalsi, near Dehradun; She supported local NGOs and many young girls to get education and stand on their own feet. She recently died in 2011 but continues to be relevant and inspiring for young women and men of this region. A close look at an unusual life.