~200 first-hand accounts of what it means to be young in India today

“Just because I started from a lower level doesn't mean I can't move upwards - that belief is what keeps me going.”

“I used my background as motivation - not as a limitation - to learn more and move forward.”

“Success, for me, means independence - the freedom to make my own choices and have control over my life.”

“I had no idea about CUET or other entrance examinations. Although I scored well in Class 12, I settled for less.”

“I was unaware of subject streams. After finishing grade 12, I still did not know about future academic or professional pathways.”

“My parents had no information or advice to prepare me. I didn't even know what placements were.”

“For us, education was not something that was passed down - it was something we had to start on our own.”

“Some kids win the lottery at birth; far too many don't - and most people struggle to catch up.”

“Hard work never provides shortcuts, but it always takes you somewhere meaningful.”

“I owe my entire education to my mother; I am nothing without her. She made paper bags at home.”

“Karta's mentoring, guidance, and moral support prepared me for higher education and strengthened my self-confidence.”

“My father and my entire family have always trusted me and encouraged me to study.”

“Education didn't just give me a degree - it gave me language for my experiences and the courage to believe I belonged.”

“I started working on myself and slowly began discovering what I'm truly good at.”

“When you come from a background like mine, confidence is something you build - not something you inherit.”

“Sometimes, I feel like it's too late for me. I started working when I was eleven.”

“My father asked me to leave school after 8th grade to help on the family farm.”

“Every day, as I glance at the university gate, I'm reminded of how much I wanted to be on the other side.”

“From the outside, you wouldn't even know - I practise my religion quietly. For me, faith is about a personal connection.”

“For me, being Indian simply means being a citizen of India - nothing more, nothing less.”

“'You SC students are always complaining about your lack of privilege and your background.'”

“At the end of the day, it's about survival. I have a family to take care of.”

“I have seen my father working multiple jobs and my mother taking up house help work.”

“We had to sell our ancestral land. That's when I realized I had to step up.”

“In social work, success cannot be defined by one milestone.”

“I never wanted to fight the world - only to study. But somewhere along the way, studying became my way of fighting.”

“Justice is not confined to courtrooms; it lives in every village, every home, and every silent voice.”