A Hyderabad-based woman studying in Canada has spoken out after facing intense online trolling for leaving her three-year-old daughter in India while she pursues higher education abroad.
Last week, Manasa Banoth, 28, shared a deeply emotional video on Instagram showing her tearful goodbye to her daughter at the airport. The clip, posted on January 26, shows the toddler crying as Manasa enters the terminal alone.
“23 kg allowed… so I left my heaviest piece of my heart behind,” she wrote in the caption. The video quickly went viral, garnering over 2.8 million views, but also attracted harsh criticism from social media users.
‘Is Any Job Worth Leaving Your Child?’
Soon after the video gained traction, Manasa found herself at the centre of brutal online backlash. Many questioned her decision to leave her young child behind.
See more of our coverage in your search results.
Add Hunterfly on Google“Is any work or job so important that you leave your toddler in another country?” one comment read. Another user wrote, “Single mother is just an excuse. I’m a single mother too, but my daughter is always with me.”
Some comments went further, accusing her of choosing “materialistic dreams” over motherhood.
A Single Mother’s Reality
Speaking to HT.com over a phone call, Manasa said the trolling deeply affected her but did not shake her resolve.
She explained that she is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Internetworking at Dalhousie University, Canada, with the goal of building a stable future for herself and her daughter.
Manasa revealed that her marriage ended shortly after her daughter’s birth in March 2022. She alleged that she faced domestic violence during the marriage and that her husband cut off all contact after the child was born.
See more of our coverage in your search results.
Add Hunterfly on GoogleSince then, she has been raising her daughter alone, with the support of her parents in Hyderabad.
From ₹40,000 Salary to Studying Abroad
After returning to her parents’ home, Manasa searched for work in India and eventually secured an HR job earning around ₹40,000 per month.
“I was working night shifts. My in-hand salary was about ₹35,000. It was barely enough to support myself and my child,” she said.
See more of our coverage in your search results.
Add Hunterfly on GoogleRealising her limited financial growth in India, Manasa began applying for higher education abroad. After multiple US visa rejections, she chose Canada.
She moved there in September 2024, with her father supporting her tuition fees. To manage living expenses, she now works two part-time jobs—at a coffee shop and a restaurant.
Why Her Daughter Couldn’t Travel With Her
Manasa clarified that her daughter could not accompany her to Canada due to ongoing legal complications.
“My daughter needs her father’s consent for a passport. He does not respond to any communication,” she said, adding that a legal case is underway to obtain the passport independently.
Until the matter is resolved, her daughter remains in Hyderabad under the care of her grandparents.
‘I Want to Give My Daughter a Better Life’
Despite the emotional toll of separation, Manasa remains hopeful.
“I want to work as a network engineer or in a role related to my course,” she said.
She also shared that she does not want to continue depending on her father financially.
“He has already sacrificed so much for our family. I don’t want him to carry the responsibility of my daughter too,” she said.
“Now it’s my turn—to earn, to stand on my own feet, and to give my daughter the same opportunities my father gave me.”
