From a Village Hostel to a Master’s in the UK: A Journey Made Possible by Support

Sometimes, a journey begins with a dream.
But for many students, a dream can only become a reality when someone helps make the first step possible.

I come from a very humble family background in Maharashtra. My father has undergone a heart operation, my mother works as a daily-wage labourer on other people's farms, and I have two younger brothers.

Growing up, I understood very early that education was not going to be easy for me.

When I was studying in 11th and 12th standard in the Science stream, travelling every day from my village to college was simply not affordable. The distance was around 20 kilometres, and the daily travel expenses were a burden for my family.

That was when the Tribal Development Department, Government of Maharashtra, became an important part of my educational journey.

I received a place in a government hostel through the Tribal Development Department. It gave me something that I desperately needed at that stage: a place to stay so that I could continue my education.

Because of that support, I was able to complete my 11th and 12th in the Science stream.

After completing school, I moved to Pune for my graduation. Moving from a village to a city like Pune brought a completely different set of challenges. Accommodation, food, education and everyday living expenses were much higher.

Once again, the Tribal Development Department supported me.

I received hostel accommodation in Pune, which significantly reduced the financial burden on my family. The department also supported my education by paying a substantial portion of my college fees.

That support allowed me to continue my Bachelor's degree in Computer Science and focus on learning rather than constantly worrying about whether my family could afford my education.

Today, I am writing this from the United Kingdom, where I have started my Master's degree in Artificial Intelligence.

And this is perhaps the part of my journey that still feels unbelievable.

I have received a fully funded scholarship of approximately ₹69.5 lakh, covering my tuition fees and living expenses for my Master's education.

But when I look back at where this journey started, I don't see the number ₹69.5 lakh.

I see a government hostel.

I see a student who could not afford daily travel from his village.

I see a family trying to make ends meet.

I see my mother working on other people's farms.

I see my father's struggle with his heart operation.

I see my two younger brothers.

And I see the support that allowed me to keep moving forward.

For me, government support was not simply financial assistance.

It was an opportunity.

An opportunity to stay in school.

An opportunity to move to Pune.

An opportunity to complete my graduation.

An opportunity to dream beyond the circumstances I was born into.

And eventually, an opportunity to study Artificial Intelligence in another country.

I know that I worked hard for every step of this journey. I studied, learned, failed, tried again and kept moving forward.

But I also know that hard work alone is not always enough when a student does not have the resources to continue.

Sometimes, the difference between a student giving up and a student moving forward is simply having someone provide that first opportunity.

For me, the Tribal Development Department, Government of Maharashtra, played that role at several important stages of my education.

From a government hostel during my 11th and 12th…

to hostel support and financial assistance during my graduation in Pune…

to now pursuing my Master's degree in Artificial Intelligence in the UK with a fully funded scholarship.

This journey would have been extremely difficult without that support.

So today, I want to say something very simple:

Thank you.

Thank you to the Government of Maharashtra.

Thank you to the Tribal Development Department.

Thank you to everyone involved in creating and implementing these educational support schemes.

You may see these schemes as government programmes, budgets, hostels or scholarships.

But behind every beneficiary is a student.

Behind every student is a family.

And behind every scholarship can be a life that changes completely.

I am one of those students.

I started my journey from a village where even daily travel to school was difficult to afford.

Today, I am studying Artificial Intelligence in the United Kingdom.

I don't consider this journey mine alone.

It belongs to my family, to everyone who supported me, and to the institutions that gave me opportunities when I needed them most.

My hope is that one day I can give something back by using what I learn to create opportunities for students who are standing where I once stood.

Because sometimes, all a student needs is one opportunity to prove what they are capable of.

I was fortunate enough to receive that opportunity.

And I will always be grateful for it.