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Journalism of Courage
A heartfelt Instagram post by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Anju Yadav has struck a chord online, as she opened up about her remarkable journey—from a life confined to household chores to achieving her dream of serving in the police force.
Sharing a collage of two contrasting photos, one in traditional attire and the other in her police uniform, Yadav recounted the personal and societal challenges she had to overcome.
In her note, translated from Hindi, she reflected on the stark difference between her past and present: “When the first picture was taken, there was no hope of becoming something and I had never even heard of the word DSP. I was just a woman who spent her days doing household chores from morning till night, waiting for the next day to arrive.” She described how exhaustion, limitations, and fear once made even the thought of dreaming feel forbidden.
Yadav also highlighted the struggles women in villages and underprivileged homes often face. “If they dare, they must be ready to face taunts, abuse, violence or even the threat of being sent back to their parents’ home,” she wrote. For her, the dream was modest—to raise herself and her son with dignity. Yet, even that required immense sacrifice from her and her family.
Her journey, she said, was one marked by pain, humiliation, and threats, but also one that ultimately brought freedom, dignity, and self-respect. “This freedom did not come overnight. It took years, slowly and painfully. But eventually, love, respect and dignity began to come my way. That is how I moved from the woman in the first picture to the woman in the second one.”
She ended her post with a message of hope: “Dreams do come true. If you put your heart and soul into them, one day everything changes. For women, the path is harder, the time longer, but change does arrive.”
Her story has since gone viral, drawing praise and support. The Better India called her “a beacon of hope and inspiration for millions of women,” while others praised her resilience. One follower reflected, “Strength came out of struggle is the real victory, nice to read your journey… Your journey will courage the coming generation.” Another wrote, “You are my inspiration…. My story is something like you and I am also preparing for psc.. But I go to work all day and get study time at night and then get up at 4am and go to the farm with all the work you tell me some time management pls.”
