Visually Impaired Hyderabad Woman Becomes Youngest Person To Complete PhD At 25

People with physical disabilities have to fight tremendous prejudice against their intelligent and capabilities on an everyday basis. Even at the face criticism, many emerge as geniuses in their respective fields. Previously, we saw how a woman with 54% physical disability ended up becoming a judge. And now adding to the brilliant achievers’ list is Jyothsna Phanija!

According to a report by The New Indian Express, Jyothsna Phanija, a visually impaired woman from Hyderabad, becomes the youngest person at 25 to complete a PhD in English Literature from an Indian university.

Jyothsna was born 100% blind. However, she completed her doctorate from English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU), Hyderabad. If that isn’t inspiring then I don’t know what is!

Till 10th standard, she studied at a blind school. Later, the principal of a junior college denied her admission after she wanted to pursue History, Economics, and Civics. This infuriated Jyothsna and she took up a challenge – to show “non-disabled” people what people with disabilities are capable of.

What came next was a series of academic achievements. Gold medals, scholarships, and steller marks paved her way to getting her PhD on Post Colonial Women Writers.

By 2011, Jyothsna had cleared the National Eligibility test, published ten research articles in books and journals, presented six papers at National Seminars and Conferences. But she also experienced humiliating interviews.

“How do you teach?”, “How do you control the class?”, “How do you take the attendance?” were some of the questions that were thrown at her. Despite such humiliation, she continued appearing for interviews and finally, selected for the post of Assistant Professor of English, at ARSD College, (University of Delhi).

Jyothsna currently teaches English Literature and Language to post-graduate and under-graduate students.

Let Jyothsna be an example for everyone who doubts the intelligence and abilities of physically disabled people!