From a small village of Maharashtra to UK, this farmer’s son and a TISS graduate won Chevening scholarship worth INR 45 Lakh

A TISS graduate Raju Kendre recently won the Chevening scholarship worth INR 45 Lakh. Following this, he is set to study at the University of London's SOAS. For those who are unaware of this prestigious program, the Chevening scholarship is an international scholarship scheme. It enables students from more than 160 countries and territories, possessing leadership skills, to pursue postgraduate programs (PG) and courses from universities in the United Kingdom (UK). The funding for this scheme is done by the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office along with its partner organizations.

Raju Kendre and his unwavering commitment...

28-year old Raju is a TISS graduate who is native to the Buldhana district in Maharashtra. Besides being a first-generation learner, he runs an organization named ‘Ekalavya Movement’, which helps kids belonging to marginalized sections of the society to avail themselves of mainstream education. Being born in a poor farmer's family, he had limited options. But it was his obsession with getting higher education that got him through multiple obstacles that came his way. 

He shares that the scholarship’s application process started around the end of September. Although he was a little apprehensive at first but submitted his application by November 2020. The scholarship, which is already very popular among the city students, is not much heard of by students, like Raju, belonging to rural areas as they do not have access to such information. Raju credits his mentor for helping him as he was the one who informed him about such scholarships.

...to uplift tribal and rural community

Raju wants to come back as soon as he can after completing the course. In fact, one of the reasons that he chose to go to the UK instead of the USA is that there is a one-year master's degree in the UK but it is a 2-year program in the USA. He cannot stay away for too long as Ekalavya is still in its incubation stage and as a founder, he takes his duty to build a strong base for it. Even the scholarship criterion also directs the program scholars to go back to their own countries and then work there.

He feels that the solution to India's developmental issues lies in Europe. When one talks of the Human Development Index (HDI), most of the top countries are from Europe. Given that they are much smaller in size and population compared to India, even then their approach towards welfare or education is something that India can learn from.

A torchbearer and an epitome of inspiration

Raju is confident that following his feat, 50% of the applications next year for the Chevening scholarship will be from Maharashtra. He hopes that his admission works as an inspiration for other young prospects because when someone from a marginalized section achieves something like this, it is a motivation for their mates. 

Raju adds that it is not only a cash reward, but also an opportunity to be a part of the forum where he could meet new people from all over the world and, hence, enhance his network. It would help his organization also. Raju’s organization has only one center right now, and he wishes for at least five of them. The scholarship has many direct and indirect effects that will help him tremendously.

He has started to prepare for his September trip to the UK as a Chevening scholar. After having achieved this, he looks back at his long journey which started from the small village of Pimpri, Khandare, about 500km away from Mumbai.

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