RANCHI: Dolly Kumari, a 17-year-old polytechnic student, mustered the courage to defy her family and decide the course of her life. She met Jharkhand chief minister Raghubar Das on Saturday and sought his help to stop her wedding. “I want to study further but my parents have decided to marry me off,” Dolly told Das and requested him to speak to her father, Kailash Kumar Pandit, who teaches at a government school in Koderma district.Das who was meeting people at his residence on Saturday, was so moved by the girl’s determination that he instantly called up Pandit and requested him to shelve Dolly’s wedding plans for now.Talking to TOI, Pandit said he was taken aback when a voice on the phone said, ‘main Raghubar Das bol raha hu (This is Raghubar Das speaking)’. “I was shocked to receive the phone call from the CM, and later, I watched my daughter on television meeting him (Das),” Pandit said, adding that he was aware of her daughter’s interest in higher education but could not do much because of financial problem.“I am retiring early next year and still have two daughters to marry off,” said the father of seven children. Asked why he was forcing her to get married, Pandit said, “My three daughters (of the five) are married and since I will not have a job next year, I want her to get married too.”The chief minister promised to help the family and asked the Ranchi deputy commissioner to meet the family and ensure that Dolly’s education was not affected.Dolly told TOI that she went to meet the chief minister after reading reports about his support to a Gumla girl.Thirteen-year-old Birsamuni Kumari became an inspiration for many girls of her age after she refused to get married and approached the Gumla administration for help. Birsamuni was lauded by the chief minister who awarded her for standing up against child marriage.“I read about Birsamuni and how she managed to avoid marriage. She even got financial help. My family is already spending on my studies so I was not keen on financial help, but wanted the CM to intervene so that my parents are convinced that I should continue with my studies,” Dolly said.