Women in Agriculture

Lesson 15 : Girl Stars’ Stories

Mittal Patadiya Fought off Assailants Including One Who Stabbed her

Ask her to recount the incident that won her the prestigious Geeta Chopra Award, the girl from Ahmedabad doesn't talk about the 351 stitches on her wound but how she regrets the fact that one of the assailants managed to escape. On November 3, 2010, Tahiliani (Mittal's foster mother) answered the door after the bell rang. Standing outside was Ajit Singh, a driver she knew, and two other men. He asked for water. Mittal went to fetch it. The men then pushed Tahiliani inside and shut the door. They started beating her, demanding money. Mittal immediately caught one of the men by his hair. The miscreant stabbed her in the neck repeatedly. Blood oozing out of her neck, she held on to the man and managed to open the door. Neighbours caught Singh and one of the accomplices. Mittal is now called 'Jhansi ki Rani'.