My journey as a traditional Kashmiri folk artist has been shaped by deep cultural inheritance and sustained struggle. Coming from a family devoted to indigenous performance traditions known as Bhands, I carry forward art forms such as Bhand Pather, Sufiana Mausiqi, Ladisha, Bach Nagma, Kashmiri Qawali, Nendeh Chakri, and Chakri. Despite financial uncertainty and limited institutional support, I continued performing, training learners, and engaging communities through theatre and music while sustaining myself through other occupations.
A turning point came when the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation supported my work on the revival, training, and documentation of Sufiana Mausiqi. This enabled structured training for young artists and strengthened cultural preservation alongside livelihood opportunities. The support reinforced my belief that traditional arts survive when artists receive trust, opportunity, and sustained institutional backing.

The support I received from the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation came at a difficult phase in my life. After my father’s passing in 2006, continuing my education became uncertain due to financial constraints, though my mother remained determined that her daughters would study. The Foundation’s scholarship enabled me to continue my schooling without interruption and focus on my academic goals. With this support, I later secured admission to a B. Tech program on a merit scholarship. During my second year, when financial pressures resurfaced, the Foundation again assisted with my tuition, allowing me to complete my degree. Today, I work as an Associate Developer in Hyderabad and support my family, remaining deeply grateful for this support.

I grew up in Gabber village in Budhal, Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir. In 2005, my father was killed by unknown gunmen at our home, just a day after my younger brother was born, leaving our family without its only source of income. My mother took on both emotional and financial responsibilities, working first as a sweeper and later as a Special Police Officer. In 2008, the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation provided scholarship support to me and my brother, helping us continue our education during a difficult time. The assistance covered essential school expenses and allowed us to focus on our studies. With this support, I completed my schooling and pursued higher education in science, for which I remain deeply grateful.

I come from Dadsara village in Tral, Pulwama district of Jammu & Kashmir, an area deeply affected by conflict. When I was three years old, my father was killed by unknown gunmen, leaving my family without its only earning member. My mother supported us through domestic work, determined that we would continue our education. In 2010, I was selected for the INTERACT scholarship program of the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, which enabled my transition from a government school to a private school and provided much-needed stability. Along with financial assistance, the Foundation offered emotional support during difficult times. Despite limited resources, I completed my schooling with strong academic performance and now pursue higher education, remaining deeply grateful for this support.

My childhood in Nasrullahpora village of Budgam district, Jammu & Kashmir, was marked by tragedy. In 1992, my family lost my father, grandfather, maternal uncle, and several neighbours in a violent firing incident, leaving us without an earning member. My mother and uncle struggled to support the family while ensuring our education continued. In 1995, my sister and I were selected for the INTERACT scholarship program of the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, which played a crucial role in sustaining our schooling during difficult years and reducing financial strain. With this support and family determination, I completed my graduation and later joined the education department, where I now serve as an Accounts Officer, remaining deeply grateful for the Foundation’s support.

The support I received from the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation through Project INTERACT played a defining role in my educational journey. Growing up in Bongaigaon, Assam, financial constraints posed significant challenges to continuing my studies. With the Foundation’s support from 2006, I was able to complete my schooling and pursue higher education with confidence. After graduating in Biotechnology in Assam, I aspired to gain wider exposure, and the Foundation facilitated my admission to Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Jaipur, where I completed an MBA with full support. Today, I work as an educator, environmentalist, and author, leading the Explorica Educational Development Society to promote innovation and environmental awareness among youth, for which I remain deeply grateful.

The support extended by the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation during one of the most difficult phases of my life helped me continue my education and rebuild hope for the future. I lost my father in a terrorist attack in Telangana in 2006, when I was still in kindergarten, leaving our family in severe financial hardship. In 2007, the Foundation supported my education through its scholarship program, providing both financial stability and encouragement. I completed my schooling with strong academic results and later pursued a Bachelor of Physiotherapy at Suresh Gyan Vihar University, followed by an internship at Yashoda Hospitals, Hyderabad. I then completed my Master of Physiotherapy in Obstetrics and Gynaecology Physiotherapy, aiming to contribute to women’s health and maternal care.

I am Kunal Thakur, born and brought up in New Delhi, where I also completed my schooling. From an early stage, I developed a strong interest in photography and video production, creating small vlogs and sharing them on social media. The Rajiv Gandhi Foundation provided me with an opportunity to refine and professionalise my skills through a six-month internship, where I learned camera handling, documentary shooting, and video editing. Based on my performance, I was offered a full-time role. Currently, I work as a Media Associate at the Foundation, handling event coverage and documentation, while pursuing my graduation through open learning. I remain grateful for the platform and experience that have supported my professional growth.

The support and encouragement extended by the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation played an important role in enabling my academic journey and research work at the University of Cambridge. I am pleased to share that my book, Pāṇini's Perfect Rule: A Modern Solution to an Ancient Problem in Sanskrit Grammar recently published by Harvard University Press and appreciated by Professor Amartya Sen, has received international recognition, including the A. Noam Chomsky Global Connections Award (Rising Star Category) from the Star Scholars Network, USA. This work would not have been possible without the Foundation’s openness to ideas and its generous support through Cambridge scholarship program. I remain deeply grateful for the foundation and its CEO Shri Vijay Mahajan for the encouragement shown at a crucial stage of my research, which strengthened my commitment to pursuing meaningful academic contributions with global relevance