In a patriarchal society where crimes against women are all too common, it is time to have women in positions of power and authority.
Manisha Ropeta, Pakistan’s first Hindu woman, has joined Sindh police as a Deputy Superintendent of Police – one of the top officials in the force. Ropeta cleared the competitive examination of the Sindh Public Service Commission in April 2021.
Before qualifying for the tough competition, she did MA in English from Shah Abdul Latif University Khairpur and a Doctor of Physical Therapy from Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center.
“Most girls prefer or are forced by their families to become doctors. It is a do-or-die-like situation for them,” Ropeta told. “I wanted to break this myth of a women-friendly profession,” she added.
Ropeta has been posted as an under-training officer in one of the port city’s oldest areas – Lyari. “These are early days of my career, and I am being trained to handle issues happening in society,” she said.
Ropeta’s father founded the family’s educational institution, and she greatly respects him for it. “He is an inspiration to me and to many other young girls who want to get an education and make their dreams a reality,” she said. In a society where young girls rarely have access to education and opportunities to study, Hindu girls do not often get the chance to achieve their full potential.
“We [the community] had been led to believe that we should only apply for jobs that were a lower level than what we were qualified for,” commented Partab Shivani, an educationist from Tharparkar. “However, our young, energetic and talented girls have proved they can compete in any competitive exam and succeed with flying colours.”
Shivani said that medicine is the first choice for girls by parents. “The parents do not think other professions as women-friendly. “This is the first time we see our Hindu girl in police [officer] uniform in the last 75 years,” he pointed out.
I am extremely grateful for the support I have received from many people, not only from my family and friends, but also from strangers across Pakistan,” she said. “I hope that my story will inspire other girls who want to succeed in life, regardless of their background or circumstances. I want them to know that they too can achieve their dreams.”
