Bivek Mathur
A dying friend’s final wish changed the life of Girdhari Lal Sharma forever. A Government school teacher from Khour area in Jammu, Sharma was by the bedside of his childhood friend Yashpal when he made a heartfelt request-“Please marry off my six daughters after I’m gone.”
The request struck a chord so deep that it transformed Sharma’s life from that of a teacher to a quiet crusader for dignity.
“I kept thinking-who takes responsibility for daughters when there’s no father around, or when the family is too poor?” Sharma recalls.
“I’ve seen families go through humiliation just trying to arrange modest weddings. That pain stayed with me.”
Sharma, 50, is a father of three children himself-two daughters and a son.
When he first spoke to his mother, a pensioner, and his wife, also a teacher, about spending their limited savings on helping others, the idea wasn’t welcomed.
“They were worried. They said, ‘We have our own children to think about.’ And they weren’t wrong. But I couldn’t ignore what I had seen and promised,” he says.
Over time, his mother began to understand his determination. His wife followed suit.
And so began Sharma’s journey-from his small village Bardoh near the International Border-towards helping poor and tribal families marry off their daughters with pride.
Starting with just the basics-some ration, kitchen items, and wedding essentials-Sharma began supporting families across districts like Rajouri, Poonch, Reasi, Kupwara, Anantnag, Budgam, Kathua, and Jammu.
Over the years, he has assisted in over 600 weddings, all without seeking fame or attention.
Asked how he maintains a balance between the job and activism, he says, “I’m not always physically present in all the marriages. Often, I just transfer Rs 15,000 or 20,000 after some respectable people from the community reaches out. These families don’t need grand weddings-just a little help to avoid shame and debt,” Sharma explains.
His efforts haven’t gone unnoticed. NGOs, panchayats, Government bodies, and even school authorities have honoured him with awards and certificates.
But Sharma says none of that matter compared to the blessings he receives from the families he helps.
He has also worked to prevent child marriages in Gujjar and Bakerwal communities and advocated for school enrolment among the tribal children besides paying the school fees of several poor children to ensure they also get equal opportunities for education.
During the COVID-19 pandemic and the spread of lumpy skin disease among animals, he stepped in once again-this time to rescue and care for affected livestock in his locality.
Balancing his teaching job and social work is no easy feat, but Sharma insists the effort is worth it.
“What keeps me going is the thought that somewhere, a girl is getting married without shame, and her parents can smile with relief,” he says.
Three of Yashpal’s daughters are now married, thanks to Sharma’s efforts. He continues to save quietly for the remaining three.
“My mother now tells me, ‘Money doesn’t go with you. But what you do for others stays behind.’ That’s what keeps me human,” Sharma says, his voice calm but resolute.
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