In January, she came through a big test in life with flying colours when she resisted her parents' efforts to marry her off to a daily wager. Now, four months later, she has passed another exam, Madhyamik, making her parents and the entire district of Malda proud. On Thursday, when TOI met 16-year-old Santana Mandal in Sahapur village, she proudly held up her Madhyamik certificate. She has been felicitated by the administration, leaving her parents somewhat goggle-eyed. "Had there been no pressure of this silly marriage business, I would have scored better," she said, vowing to make amends in the Higher Secondary exam. "Take it from me. I'll get far better scores in HS and will also complete my graduation," she said. And marriage? Nobody dares utter the word before her any more.

TOI had profiled Santana's inspiring fight for her rights in January. She was preparing hard for Madhyamik when she learnt one day that her parents had fixed a groom and wedding date for her. She was furious but no one listened to her protests.

"The exams were just a few months away. I had studied hard and decided I wouldn't let go of the opportunity," said Santana. Having failed to convince her parents, she called ChildLine and sought help from the social welfare department. Officials rushed over and convinced her parents to call off the wedding at the eleventh hour.

Today, her parents Jonmejoy, a daily labourer, and Soneka, who works as a maid, are beaming with pride. After all, their "stubborn" daughter is the toast of the state. Soneka said, "We are poor. We thought we would be relieved if we get our daughter married off (they have two sons). But she and the district officers made us realise what crime we were going to do. Our daughter has taught us what we elders did not know."

Santana's courage - which district officials say cannot be measured by her 33% score - is all the more inspiring because Malda tops Bengal in the number of child marriages.

Santana's fight has motivated other girls. "Many of my friends are getting married. I don't know if my parents have such plans for me. But Santana has inspired us and shown us how to fight. I'll fight like her," said Tabasum Khatun of Bhagabanpur village. Another student, Manasi Mandal of Balupur village, echoed her: "I will not give up my right to study."

DM Sharad Dwibedi promised that the administration will continue to support her.