An Indian school girl, who gained worldwide recognition through an Oscar-winning documentary, has expressed her frustration and sorrow that the fame did not alleviate her profound poverty.
Pinki Sonkar, who captivated audiences in Smile Pinki at just five years old, shared her journey of enduring ridicule and torment due to her cleft lip before undergoing a life-altering surgery.
Her narrative led her from a humble mud-built dwelling in a rural setting to encounters with renowned personalities and dignitaries, sparking aspirations and assurances of a brighter future for herself and her family.
Walking the prestigious red carpet among Hollywood’s elite at the 81st Academy Awards in 2009 when the documentary claimed an Oscar, Pinki’s newfound stardom culminated in an invitation to participate in the coin toss at the Wimbledon Men’s Singles Finals in 2013, heralding a historic victory.
However, despite the anticipation of a promising tomorrow, Pinki’s aspirations have remained unfulfilled as she continues to grapple with a life entrenched in “anguish and destitution,” mirroring the hardships she endured prior to her documentary debut.
In an exclusive interview with MailOnline from her residence in the village of Rampur Dhabahi, Pinki tearfully expressed, “Life has always been arduous for me, and the film did not alter our circumstances significantly. We were impoverished then, and we remain so now.”
She lamented, “Numerous pledges were made to me by film industry figures and politicians, fostering hopes of a better life. Yet, as evident, it was all mere rhetoric. Our situation remains dire.”
Living in a scant two-room abode with her parents and siblings, Pinki’s family congregates in a dusty courtyard devoid of shelter, where daily activities, including meals, cooking, and hygiene, transpire amidst a backdrop of roaming chickens.
Devoid of basic amenities such as a bathroom, running water, or consistent electricity, the family’s abode lacks furnishings apart from a makeshift rope bed and plastic chairs, while outdoor facilities consist of fields behind their makeshift dwelling.
Pinki embarks on her daily routine at 4:30 am, trekking half a kilometer to fetch water from a contaminated well for drinking and bathing purposes. Subsequently, she commutes via a dilapidated bus to a school located approximately an hour and a half away.
Now 21, Pinki reflected, “Life poses perpetual challenges for the underprivileged. While disheartened by unfulfilled assurances, my primary focus is self-improvement to provide for my family.”
Navigating through the dilapidated roads leading to Pinki’s village in Uttar Pradesh, India, unveils a stark landscape where impoverished locals engage in agricultural toil and manual labor, underscoring the harsh realities of their existence.
Pinki’s trajectory towards a hopeful future commenced when Smile Train India, an NGO, identified her in her village. The organization intervened after her father, Rajinder Sonkar, narrated the ostracism and trauma Pinki endured due to her cleft lip, impeding her education and social integration.
Moved by her plight, the NGO facilitated Pinki’s surgery in Varanasi, a city located three hours away, free of charge. This transformative journey was chronicled by American filmmaker Megan Mylan, who shed light on the pervasive issue affecting numerous children in need of medical intervention.
While acknowledging the charity’s ongoing support, Pinki expressed disillusionment with affluent individuals she encountered during her trips to America and Britain, lamenting their superficial engagements devoid of substantial assistance.
The Sonkar family sustains themselves through subsistence farming on a modest plot of land allocated by the local government post the success of Smile Pinki. Despite consuming most of their yield, surplus produce is sold at the local market, yielding a meager income insufficient to meet their needs.
Mr. Sonkar disclosed that incremental governmental aid marginally ameliorated their circumstances, transitioning from a mud dwelling to a partially constructed brick residence. However, financial constraints impede the completion of the housing project, necessitating an additional £2,000.
Lamenting the absence of tangible souvenirs from her overseas ventures, Pinki recollected receiving signed tennis balls from Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic, which were subsequently misplaced. She underscored her preference for financial assistance over material possessions, emphasizing the enduring financial hardships her family faces.
As Pinki navigates her final year of schooling with aspirations of pursuing higher education and a career in civil service, financial constraints loom large, estimating educational expenses at £6,000. Despite adversities, Pinki remains resolute in her pursuit of a better future, buoyed by the hope that her global recognition will translate into tangible support for her aspirations and familial well-being.