Miss India Kanishtha Dhankar makes native village proud

Model Kanishtha Dhankar, who has bagged the Femina Miss India World 2011 title, has made people at her native village Kasni here proud, with family members hoping that her victory will encourage women's progress in Haryana.

Dhankar's grandparents Matu Ram Dhankar and Chawli Devi, who have been living in the village here, are excited about the success of their granddaughter.

The 22-year-old beauty queen's father Raj Singh Dhankar is an officer in the Indian Navy while her grandfather is a retired commander of the same.

Dhankar's mother, Kusum Dhankar, is a lecturer in Delhi whereas grand mother Chawli Devi has served as sarpanch of the village.

"Winning the title of Miss India was the dream Kanishtha told us about over two months ago when she came to the village with her parents. At that time, she had also asked her parents that she needs special training to take part in the pageant," Maturam Dhankar told media persons at his house in Kasni.

He said that it is a matter of immense pleasure not only for the residents of Kasni village and Jhajjar district but also the entire state that Dhankar has proved that Haryana's daughters are achievers.

Concerned about the declining sex ratio in Haryana, Matu Ram opined that his granddaughter's achievement will prove instrumental in bringing a significant change among Haryanvis in the matter of gender discrimination.

Dhankar, a student at HR College in Mumbai, will represent India at the Miss World contest to be held in September this year.