When I asked her about her age, Sakuntala could not tell since her birth has not been recorded anywhere and no one has cared about her age so far. Why would anyone living in a village, doing household chores, taking care of children and feeding the cattle need to know one's age?
She is a mother of four children, three elder daughters and a son being the youngest of all. She explained that she need to have a son because he would carry the family name and when she and her husband died in future, he would incinerate their body, giving them safe passage to heaven. She also explained further that it was difficult to feed her four children but it was a small price to pay if she wanted a son.
Her eldest daughter was married off at an age of fifteen few hours away from Halkhori village. She said that she had the burden of marrying off two more daughters. She seemed little worried about getting resources for the dowry that she would have to pay during her daughters' marriages. However, she exclaimed that she was happy to be at the Jurshital Institute, which took her away from her usual family worries and responsibilities. She said that at the Institute she had time for herself and her beautiful creations of Mithila art.
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