Sarita Mali is a 28-year-old scholar, set to begin her PhD programme at the University of California.
A native of Uttar Pradesh's Jaunpur district, Mali was raised in a slum of Mumbai. Mali used to sell flowers on pavements in Mumbai to support her father's income as a child.
Mali's hard work and resilience in face of adversity, led her to mould her future.
She did her graduation from KJ Somaiya College of Arts and Commerce and paid for it by giving lessons to kids from her locality. Mali also earned an MA in Hindi literature from Jawaharlal Nehru University.
In her post, which was widely shared, she highlighted her passion for studies and the woes of the marginalised sections of the society. Her story of struggle provides hope to millions to who long for a better future.