Surat: For 34-year-old Shahida Kapadia, life’s second act begins with an exam pad and notes. Once confined by an early marriage and then left to fend for herself, this Surat mother resumed her studies after a 17-year gap, determined to qualify as a teacher and secure her future on her own terms.At 17, Shahida Kapadia entered an arranged marriage with hopes of a comfortable life. She quit her studies after Class 10, believing that marrying into a well-off family would secure her future. After the birth of her three daughters, her husband married again, and Shahida’s world collapsed.At 34, she found herself starting over — from the point she was at 17. Today, Shahida is appearing for her Class 12 general stream board exam, while her elder daughter, 16-year-old Zubiya, takes the Class 10 exam. Shahida now hopes to join a Primary Teacher’s Certificate (PTC) college and later complete her BEd so she can earn independently.After her talaq, she refused to give up. Instead of moving back to her parents’ home, she chose to live on her own — though her daughters continue to stay with their father. She rented a small room and began working at a preschool. With no teaching qualifications, she earned almost nothing and often survived on money borrowed from relatives.“If I was educated, I would have got a job. I decided to restart my studies and will do a BEd after PTC College,” Shahida said. “I learned from teachers at the school, where I teach nursery children, that I could become a teacher too.”Shahida Kapadia’s struggle is not limited to academics. She is also fighting a court battle for maintenance and rarely gets a chance to meet her daughters. Through it all, her father, Abdul, has stayed firmly by her side, encouraging her to study and rebuild her life.”I will be the first person in my father’s family to complete Class 12,” she said with a smile. “My father, his brothers, sisters, my brother and my mother — no one studied after Class 10.“A turning point came when her aunt connected her with Naresh Mehta, a municipal school principal who helps women resume their education. Mehta conducts free online classes for girls and women who dropped out of school, accessible through a simple mobile phone. Shahida attended the classes for about eight months and is now confidently appearing for her exams.“Shahida shows the capability of a woman. A girl can do anything, but they do not get support from family when they are young, due to which they drop out,” Mehta said. “Shahida has a bright future, and she will carve her way through life in her own way.”Shahida’s journey, marked by loss, resilience and quiet courage, is a reminder that it is never too late to rewrite one’s destiny.
