Jharkhand’s ‘next-generation leaders’ target UK universities, with government help

Banna, who had applied for the Rhodes Scholarship but faced rejection, said he did not give up hope. “The scholarship application processes are complicated. Privileged people who spend a few days in rural areas intend to become experts and are selected through various scholarships. At the same time, it takes people like me ages to crack the code. The Jharkhand government program is unique in that it has given me an opportunity to do something for the people of my state,” Banna said.

“I studied in a madrasa, so I know the importance of education. Except for two of us, most of my 120 batchmates are doing daily wage labor. I believe that education is the only field that will reduce social and economic inequality,” she said.

Sharwan Kumar (27), a Dalit teacher, is set to study Data Science at Anglia Ruskin University. Kumar, who hails from Chatra district, lost his father to illness in 2006. Currently, he runs a training center in Mayapur Kalan village, charging a nominal fee of Rs 100-300 from students.

“I want the people of my community and the poor to grow, and that is why I teach. I started teaching when I was in class 6. After completing my math graduation in 2017, I tried to sit for competitive exams for two years, with no luck. Then the Covid devastated us and I was about to lose hope. But my older brother told me about this scholarship plan and I made it. I didn’t even know that something like this would be possible in my lifetime,” he said.

Government officials say the goal is to equip the next generation of leaders, decision-makers and opinion-formers with the skills and knowledge to drive change and contribute to the economic and social development of the state and country.

Lokesh Mishra, former Tribal Welfare Commissioner, who was the lead person in government for the two scholarships for the 2023-24 academic year, said: “We received 1,147 applications. Of that, we interviewed 81 and 25 qualified. Compared to previous years, we received more requests. For ST seats, more than 100 applications for 10 seats were received. Turnout from OBC and minority students was also good, but for scheduled caste seats, turnout was low and we expect it to increase next year.”

Madhumita Munda (22), who is from one of Jharkhand’s tribal communities, will be studying Data Analytics at Aston University, Birmingham. Her father, Dasrath Munda, used to be a car driver before opening a grocery store in Jamshedpur. Her mother is a housewife.

After class 12, she took a “year off” and taught at Loyola School in Jamshedpur as a substitute teacher so she could save money for graduation. Her father also took out a loan and eventually completed a bachelor’s degree in computer applications.

“I want to own a consulting firm, become an entrepreneur, and employ people who come from the margins. The government has helped me now and in the future I want to take responsibility,” said Madhumita.

His father recalled that when he received an offer letter from the university, he did not know what to do. “I told him that even if we sold our house, we wouldn’t be able to finance his education. I told him to look for scholarships and his efforts paid off,” he said.

Praful Kiran Kerketta, 22, graduated from Ranchi Women’s College with a degree in zoology and has now chosen to study Management at Queen’s University Belfast. She comes from a farming family and her mother is anganwadi sevika. She said that she was drawn to studying management, as it would offer her more career options. “Nobody in my family dreamed that I could study abroad. It’s a dream, isn’t it, she said.

Suraj Modi, 24, who is from the OBC community, will conduct research in Biotechnology at Nottingham Trent University in the UK. He completed his graduation in Biotechnology from Marwari College in Ranchi and later obtained a scholarship at Gonna University to obtain a Master’s Degree in Marine Biotechnology.

“I want to do my own independent research when I get back, start my own company like Bharat Biotech,” he said. “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, I will make it count.”