Many people might not realise this, but education is a great equalizer which is capable of shattering socioeconomic disparity by granting individuals opportunities that can transform their lives. Education can pull someone out of poverty and adversity. It is through education that the impoverished find a voice, the marginalized find a platform, and the disenfranchised find a means to rewrite their destinies.
25-year-old Pragya is the daughter of a man named Ajay Kumar Samal who works as a cook at the Supreme Court of India. Pragya is a law researcher and she recently secured scholarships to multiple prestigious universities in the US – Columbia Law School, Chicago Law School, Carey Law School, Berkeley Law School, and Michigan Law School to pursue a Master’s, reported TOI.
She is a student of Amity Law School in Noida and throughout her LLB course, she consistently topped the merit list and was a gold medalist. While Berkeley offered her a scholarship of $30,000, Michigan upped it to $50,000.
Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud felicitated Pragya, and gave her a standing ovation amidst other Supreme Court judges at the judges’ lounge. Both her parents were honoured with shawls.
“It is a matter of pride for all of us,” CJI Chandrachud tells Ajay Kumar Samal. Here’s a video of the felicitation:
View this post on Instagram
Pragya will be accepting the offer from Michigan Law School.
Pragya’s father hails from a village in Odisha and worked as a cook with the Aditya Birla Group in the early 1990s. Since 1996, he has been working as a cook at the top court where he serves many judges.
“It is really remarkable how the opportunity to work at the SC can bring so many more opportunities for children of the staff,” CJI Chandrachud exclaimed.
Kudos to Pragya for this incredible achievement!