Suraj grew up in Bhuri Pahadi, a village on the outskirts of Ranthambore, where girls were denied education and confined to traditional roles. “Their only role was to cook, clean, and reproduce,” she recalls.
“It was because of Hemraj’s insistence that I was allowed to move to Sawai Madhopur and attend school,” she shares.
Despite her growing aspirations, Suraj faced strong opposition from her family and community. “The entire village took it upon themselves to try and get me to leave my job and sit at home,” she says.
Despite her unparalleled knowledge of local wildlife, Suraj struggled to communicate effectively with foreign tourists. “That was when the need to learn more dawned upon me,” she admits.
Suraj then took matters into her own hands. She kept a small notebook where she noted every new word she came across. Later, she would look up the meanings in a dictionary and carefully write them down. “This is how I learned conversational English,” she says.
Suraj’s first professional sighting was during a solo ride on 16 October 2007. “I remember it like it was yesterday.”
Despite her vast expertise, Suraj continues to face unrealistic expectations from tourists. “They forget that I am only a guide and I cannot make the tigers show themselves,” she says.
Over the years, Suraj has earned several accolades for her work, including the prestigious ‘Best Lady Guide’ award from the Maharaja of Jaipur.
“The work I have put in as a naturalist is akin to a PhD. I have learned how to identify calls, track footprints, and study the behaviour of other animals,” Suraj says.
Her success has also had a profound impact on her village. Today, girls from Bhuri Pahadi are pursuing education and exploring careers. “I am thankful that this change has happened. There are so many things that us girls can achieve if they are supported,” she asserts.