My name is Raji V R, and I’m from Thrissur, Kerala, India. I lost my vision at the age of four due to optic nerve damage. Despite numerous hospital visits, the doctors confirmed there was no chance of restoring my sight. However, they encouraged my parents to ensure I received a good education, believing I had a bright future. My parents faced financial challenges, so they enrolled me in a special school for the blind in Kunnamkulam. From the first grade, I stayed in the hostel and continued my education there until seventh grade. I was proud to be awarded the ‘Best Student’ upon my departure. Afterward, I joined a mainstream school for sighted students, where I completed my education from 8th to 12th grade. The school was a nurturing environment, filled with supportive teachers and friends, and I was honored to graduate as the school topper in 12th grade. I then pursued my undergraduate and postgraduate studies at Sree Kerala Varma College. I was fortunate to receive the unwavering support of my friends and teachers, who helped me discover my potential. I was again honored to become the college topper for my undergraduate degree. Next, I enrolled at Dr. John Mathai Center to pursue my B.Ed. During this time, I topped the college and qualified for both the State Eligibility Test and the National Eligibility Test. My passion for research drove me to seek a Ph.D. supervisor, but due to misconceptions about my abilities, no one was willing to accept me as their student. This was a deeply painful period. In the meantime, I began working as an assistant professor at a self-financed college,where I have been teaching for three years on a basic salary. Amid these challenges, I got married, which I consider a true blessing. My husband, who just started his career as a freelancer photographer, has been a constant source of support, just like my parents, assisting me to achieve my goals and build a meaningful life. Eventually, I was appointed to an aided school in North Paravur under a Supreme Court ruling on disability reservations. However, after five or six months, I understood that the appointment was invalid due to an issue with the post. This left me without pay for that period and put my family under significant financial strain.
Despite this setback, I continued pushing forward, and a few months later, I secured a new appointment at another aided school. Around the same time, I was accepted as a research scholar at NIT Calicut after seven long years of searching for a supervisor. Throughout those years, I never lost my passion for research, not even for a moment.
I am a part-time Ph.D. scholar, but I need help managing the fees and formalities tied to my appointment at the aided school. I am kindly requesting financial assistance in the form of a scholarship for the upcoming year to help ease the burden and allow me to continue my research smoothly. For the next year, if I get a scholarship, from December 2025, I will be able to pay my fees on my own. For the period from December 2024 to December 2025, the total fee structure for my Ph.D. at NIT Calicut includes approximately ₹50,000 for each semester (Semester 3 and Semester 4) for fees such as admission, development, library, and career development charges. This will cover my second year of research, and I humbly request your support to help me achieve my dreams.
Best regards,
Raji V R
PH: 81297 47217