Sarita Mali, a girl from Mumbai, accompanied her father to sell flowers on the streets and sidewalks of Mumbai. She even chased cars at traffic lights with bouquets in hand to boost the family’s daily income by ₹300. a doctoral program at the University of California.

Sarita, whose native village is Jaunpur in Uttar Pradesh, was born and raised in a slum near the Ghatkopar district of Mumbai. She broke social barriers on many levels, and she has a painful story to remember. While telling the story of his life to India timeshe said, “My childhood was filled with suffering, be it economic, psychological or because of my gender. In our country, a dark-skinned girl from a certain stratum of society faces many additional challenges.”

She added that when she expressed her desire to study Hindi literature, she was bombarded with questions and asked why she wanted to move to Delhi to study.

“JNU has shaped my outlook on life”

Mali’s father supported her wishes and made sure she and her siblings did what they wanted. Even though he was uneducated, he wanted his children to study and do well in life.

Mali studied at a municipal school in Mumbai, and after completing class X, she started home schooling for children in her locality. She did it because she wanted to earn money to get into college. After saving enough money, she joined KJ Somaiya College of Arts and Commerce.

She joined JNU in 2014 and pursued a master’s degree in Hindi literature. Asked about her experience at JNU, she said, “It would have been impossible for me to study there if there hadn’t been a state-funded university like JNU.” She further stated that it made her realize that anyone can have the right opportunity no matter what caste or class they belong to and that being at JNU shaped her outlook on life. .

She will now pursue a doctoral program at the prestigious University of California.

Also read: Nearly 50% of COVID patients have at least 1 symptom even 2 years after recovery: Lancet study