(This letter is part of a series by The Indian Express where we bring to you the experiences of students at different foreign universities. From scholarships and loans to food and cultural experiences — students tell us how life is different in those countries and things they are learning other than academics) —Prakhar Sharma I was born on December 27, 1995 and within 30 minutes of my birth, the fingers of my right hand had to be amputated due to negligence of the hospital. We filed a case, fought for 10-12 years and won it, however, it could not bring back what I had lost. But, as they say, every cloud has a silver lining, this one too. Due to this disability, I became more sensitive towards the physically challenged. I could empathize with people and understand that they don’t need sympathy but a more accessible world where their condition does not become a hurdle in their progress. And, that has been the driving factor for me and my career. I want to build something for people with disabilities to empower them. I want people to look at the social angle of disability, not see it just as a health problem. I completed my graduation from Satyavati College, University of Delhi with a Bachelor’s in English Literature. I then went on to pursue my postgraduation from Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) Mumbai. I completed my Master’s in Social Work (Livelihood and Social Entrepreneurship). After that, I worked as a CSR Executive for National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) for two years before I decided to study abroad. LSE, a dream come true I applied to three colleges— the University of Sussex, SOAS University of London and the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). I got through all three but as studying higher education at LSE was both my father's and mine's dream, I took admission there. At present, I am pursuing MSc in International Social and Public Policy from LSE. I decided to study abroad as I wanted to learn about international practices for people with disabilities. I wanted to learn about the social and public policy regarding them in general and the Indian community. For admission to LSE, they required my transcripts of my bachelor’s and master’s, statement of purpose, professional resume and letters of recommendation from my professors. I came here in September 2022 and will graduate in September, this year. London, a metropolitan in a true sense London is a global village as you will find people here from across the world and it is also immigrant-friendly. The culture is very vibrant and joyful. The city is also very lively, there are so many events and activities, something or the other is always happening throughout the year. One more thing that I have noticed is that the UK as a country has more disabled-friendly infrastructure compared to India. I stay in student accommodation where I am sharing a flat with six others. We all have our separate rooms but the kitchen, hall and bathrooms are shared. Being from Delhi, I love Indian food. I cook by myself and there are Indian grocery stores around so it is not much of a hassle. My accommodation is centrally located, London Bridge and Tower Bridge are within walking distance. Even my college is centrally located but is at some distance from my place. College, friends and more I have made a bunch of friends here, some are from different parts of the world such as the USA, Hong Kong, Kenya, and China, while others are from India. My closest friends here are from India — Telangana, Karnataka and Delhi. We celebrated Diwali together and it was so much fun. Whenever I miss home, I travel to divert myself and explore new places and learn about them. I have travelled mostly in the UK and Scotland. It feels surreal to walk around, live and study in London. When it comes to education, I feel Indian teachers were better as they knew more about India at the grassroots level. Obviously, you cannot expect teachers from here to know about the situation in India. But here, this degree is helping me understand the general social concept, international perspectives and academic theories. My future plans I will return to India after completing my degree, at present, I am looking for opportunities. I would like to work as a CSR executive or with some NGO that is doing something for people with disabilities in India. Anyone who is interested in going abroad for studies shall do good research about the colleges and the courses offered by various colleges. They should not get swayed away by country name because in the end what matters is what you have studied. It is always good to be sure about what you want and plan your career prospects accordingly.
