For many women in India, a signature is more than a mark on paper. It is the first proof of identity they can claim as their own.

Not long ago, most women in Kukraun, a village in Bihar’s Purnea district, relied on thumb impressions for official work. Today, nearly 80 per cent can sign their names.

This shift did not come from a policy push. It came from deliberate interventions led by one woman who understood what it meant to be left behind.

A childhood cut short

Afsana Begum grew up in Khanuha village, where schooling often ended early for girls.

She completed Class 8 at a government school and later pursued intermediate education through a madrassa. But her formal education ended there.

The absence of nearby schools meant that continuing studies required travelling long distances — something few families allowed their........

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