New Delhi: It’s a dream come true for flower garland seller’s daughter Sarita Mali whose perseverace and hard work has taken her to the University of California. The 28 -year-old literature student, who used to accompany her father in selling flower garlands on the streets of Mumbai, has got admission to a PhD course, according to the news agency ANI.
As present, she is pursuing PhD in Hindi Literature at Indian Language Centre in Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). She has completed her degree in MA and Mphil from the same University (JNU) and will submit her PhD in July.
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Malti’s father is the sole bread earner supporting a family of five including wife, two daughters and two sons. Her father went to their hometown in Badlapur in Jaunpur at the time of lockdown. Sharing how her life took a leap, Mali said, "JNU is the turning point of my life. Getting admitted to JNU in MA is the turning point of my life. Had I not got admission here, I don't know where I would've been. A university like JNU gives abundant hope to people coming from the society where I belong to."
In 2010, she came to know about JNU through one of her cousins. She didn't even have a smartphone till graduation. Her cousin had back then said, 'whosoever goes to JNU becomes something'. That line stayed with her as she focused on preparing for JNU in BA first year.
Back then when the exams for JNU were subjective, she was selected under the OBC quota for master's degree in 2014.
She added, "I feel there are ups and downs in everyone's life. Everyone has his/her stories and sufferings. This is decided in which society one is born and what life you get. Unfortunately or fortunately in some sense, I was born in a society where problems were the most essential part of my life."
Mali used to assist her father in selling flowers during festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi, Diwali, and Dussehra. She used to do this after her school hours.