By Ram Kamal February 20, 2025Latest Writings

Chandrika Tandon is the latest sensation in the global music scene. Her life story is as inspiring as that of any girl from a middle- or lower-income family. However, many are unaware of her past.
As an educationist, I believe it is crucial to compare Chandrika’s journey with the unfortunate reality of child marriages in Andhra Pradesh. In recent months, I have personally heard from several young girls about their families’ insistence on getting them married soon after passing their 10th grade.
Let us examine this contrast.
Born into a middle-class family in Chennai, Chandrika was the eldest of three siblings. Her younger sister, Indra Nooyi, is known worldwide as the former CEO of PepsiCo, one of the most powerful women in business. Their brother, Nandu Narayan, later became the founder and Chief Investment Officer of Trident Investment Management LLC in New York.
Chandrika often recalls how her mother would exchange old Kanchipuram sarees for stainless steel utensils, carefully storing them in a Godrej steel almirah to give it as part of the dowry systems in the 70s. Her mother firmly believed and always use to tell all her friends that Chandrika should be engaged at 17 and married by 18, ensuring she didn’t fall in love and elope.
But Chandrika defied those expectations. She pursued higher education, earning admission to IIM Ahmedabad, then joining McKinsey in New York, and eventually establishing her own consulting firm, which expanded across continents. At 70, she won a Grammy Award for her musical compositions, popularizing Hindu chanting on a global scale. All of this was possible because she grew up in an enlightened society that valued and encouraged girls’ education, despite prevailing societal norms.
Since I began working in Andhra’s education sector post-COVID, I have witnessed at least two dozen cases of exceptionally bright young girls being forced into child marriages. While some were rescued, many had to bury their dreams—dreams of becoming the next Chandrika or Indra Nooyi, or even influential women leaders like Gummadi Sandhya Rani, the Minister for Child and Women Welfare, or Vangalapudi Anitha, the Home Affairs Minister.
Andhra Pradesh has no shortage of brilliant young girls. But if the government turns a blind eye to child marriages, how can we call the state women-friendly? I come from Kerala, which, a few decades ago, faced similar issues. However, strict law enforcement, strict punishments, and public vigilance transformed Kerala, drastically reducing child marriages.
Wake up, Andhra! Wake up! When a girl is given the opportunity to pursue education to the fullest, the immediate and long-term impact is a thriving, prosperous society.

Views are personal and based on the personal studies conducted by the author. The blog is not to hurt anyone intentionally and for the social good.

The author is a globetrotter, former journalist, and social engineer advising Governments on Inclusive Education, STEM, and Social Entrepreneurship.