A Teen's Story of Courage
The government of India issued a lockdown in March due to the COVID- 19 pandemic.
The1was badly affected by the pandemic. 2, millions of people lost their jobs, including Mohan Paswan — the3of 15-year-old Jyoti Kumari. They had no money for4 and for food, so the landlord threatened to kick them out and5their electricity. Kumari and her father's only6was to return to their home village in Bihar, which was more than 1,200 kilometers away. 7there were special8for migrants who wished to return home, Paswan was not able to walk to the railway station due to a(n)9from a traffic accident. Out of10, Kumari used the 20 dollars they had left to buy a pink bike and11on May 8th for the village.
Kumari would12in the front, while her father would sit on the back seat with heavy luggage. They traveled more than 100 kilometers a day and only13at gas stations to sleep at night. Along the way, they14kind strangers who gave them food and encouragement; one truck driver even15 the father and the daughter a ride for 30 miles.
They16arrived at the village on May 15th and were reunited with their family. This story of a 17girl has moved the hearts of many people including the18of the national team and a director. Kumari has been invited to join the Indian19team in the 2024 and 2028 Olympics and has also received an offer to20as herself in an upcoming movie.
