Advertisment

How Dr Aparajita Gogoi Works Unstoppably To Empower Women From Vulnerable Communities

Dr Aparajita Gogoi talks about her organisation, how she aims to help young girls and women in deep patriarchal setups in the country, and why it’s integral to constantly work towards equality.

author-image
Aastha Dhillon
Updated On
New Update
Aparajita Gogoi
Dr Aparajita Gogoi, Executive Director of the Centre for Catalyzing Change (C3), commenced her quest to bring social change while doing her PhD at JNU. Her work has centred around providing girls and women access to better life choices.. Her work earned her a spot in The Guardian’s list of 100 most influential women in the world.
Advertisment

Holding over two decades of experience in social work and advocacy, Dr Gogoi’s ideology has taken her to the most remote corners of the country to drive change from the grassroots and she is now looking to do more in this space. Over the last three decades, C3 has emerged as a primary changemaker focused on improving the condition of women in India.

In an interview with SheThePeople, Dr Aparajita Gogoi talks about her organisation, how she aims to help young girls and women in deep patriarchal setups in the country, and why it’s integral to constantly work towards equality.

Aparajita Gogoi Interview

What cause does the Centre for Catalyzing Change (C3) inculcate?

It is an NGO that propagates visionary zeal to enable women and girls in India to be fully empowered and equipped to realise their rights, access opportunities, and achieve gender equality. It has striven to ensure that they grow up as educated and confident citizens of India; live dignified and healthy lives; and herald themselves the leaders at the frontline. This is what we strive to achieve.

Please acquaint us with the factors which motivated you to blaze the trail and get associated with C3.

Advertisment

I’m originally from Assam, but when I moved to Delhi for my further studies, I realised the harsh realities of the injustice that girls and women were prone to. Even in well-educated families, the condition of women was indeed so miserable. Early marriage, early pregnancies, gender-based discrimination, and violence, were all prevalent. This loop of injustice strikes me. Hence, while pursuing my PhD, I resolved to dedicate myself to this cause.

It is so difficult to change the rigid notions of society. I'm from Haryana and there are many prejudices that people still confide in. How did you manage to eradicate all those stereotypes despite the obstacles?

Yes, it was very difficult and we were working in remote, rural regions, so we often had to face rigid notions. It’s all about perseverance and determination. The spirit of never giving up is all that you require. I can still recall an incident where a nineteen-year-old girl was married without her consent. We intervened and eventually made her family understand they should focus on giving her the freedom of choice instead of clipping her wings.

What are the future agendas of C3 that will help girls become persistent? 

We are emphasising on improving the lives of 2 million girls and women in India by empowering them with better education and quality of life, and better &t=22s">healthcare, along with governance opportunities. We will ensure that girls and women can take a stand for themselves. That’s the biggest thing one can do. They are the boss of their lives and no superpower should be allowed to seize their rights.

What is your advice for readers who aspire to work towards social causes?

Advertisment

I would say your self-esteem should be vital to you and it can be solely derived from confidence. Try to grab every opportunity that comes your way and conquer all the hurdles that come in between.


Suggested reading: How Data Scientist Rashi Gupta Changes Business Ecosystems With AI-Powered Startup

Women in Leadership women in STEM Aparajita Gogoi
Advertisment