Everything else burnt. Her TISS degree is the only paper left in her name

For the Baranwals, the degree certificate will now be the only original document in their daughter’s name that the family has. “Everything else was burnt in that fire,” Babita, her mother, told The Indian Express.

Shrutika was in the national capital on June 3 to complete the joining formalities for a job she had secured at the Rubber, Chemical & Polymer Skill Development Council via campus placement.

The family in Mumbai in April last year (Express photo)

“We could not bring back anything from the site. My son went to check for her belongings, but everything – her phone, laptop, bag – was burnt to ashes,” Babita said.

Since Shrutika loved documenting her activities, her family keeps returning to photos and videos she shared with them.

“She was a bright, young girl who was not just ambitious but determined to make every effort to achieve her goals. Even the career she chose was different from choices made by children from our family. But she was confident about building a successful career in this field, and had travelled to Delhi with all that excitement,” said Ramesh.

That confidence wasn’t always there. In Bokaro, preparing for engineering, medicine, CA or other competitive exams is the most preferred higher education path. Shrutika, too, began preparing for NEET, the national-level medical entrance test, after school.

But soon afterwards, she decided not to pursue medicine. “I remember her telling me about how scared she was of different surgical procedures. I told her not to worry and to pursue what she is truly interested in,” said Ramesh.

Shrutika then enrolled in a B.Sc course in Ranchi. It was here that she was introduced to TISS, which, according to her parents, gave direction to her career ambitions.

The family did not know much about the courses offered at the premier social science institute and were also worried because Mumbai was so far from their hometown. “But when she cleared the TISS entrance procedure (in 2024), the excitement I saw in her eyes cannot be put into words,” said Ramesh, who accompanied her to Mumbai.

“I had to see the institute with my own eyes, meet its people, check her living conditions to ensure her safety so far away from home,” he said.

Pranjal Deekshit, chairperson of the TISS Centre for Water Policy and Governance, had earlier told The Indian Express that Shrutika would proactively take part in various initiatives. “She was doing great work in the area of groundwater preservation. Her Master’s dissertation on shallow aquifer management in Dhanbad was well-appreciated by faculty as well as those working in the field,” he had said.

As Ramesh got ready to accept the degree on her behalf, he said, “She was the life of every gathering. Wherever she went, she would bring light and joy. Today too, she is giving us a reason to be joyful in celebration of her success.”

The Baranwal couple will be accompanied by their daughter-in-law Riya and granddaughter Aashi to attend the convocation on Saturday.

The couple were in Mumbai last year too, but under happier circumstances – in April 2025, they celebrated their wedding anniversary in the city. “She had arranged a boat party for us in the Arabian Sea, near the Gateway of India at Colaba. It was a complete surprise for us,” said Ramesh.

Babita remembers how she got ready that day, following Shrutika’s instructions. “That was our thing. She would help me dress up for any event. Even when we were apart, we would connect over video call for this. She just loved planning for events,” said Babita.