From Financial Hardship to Academic Achievement: Dr. Anik Saha's Journey

Dr. Anik Saha, a 33-year-old scholar from the Scheduled Caste community (Sunri including Saha), overcame severe financial hardship following his father's demise to complete his higher education and doctoral research. From 2018 to 2022, he received financial assistance through the National Fellowship for Scheduled Caste Students (NFSC) at rates equivalent to NET-JRF fellows. The fellowship covered admission fees, fieldwork, thesis printing, and submission costs, allowing him to focus on his M.Phil. and Ph.D. studies instead of relying entirely on evening private tuitions. Currently, Dr. Saha works as a Research Assistant on an Indian Council of Social Science Research project at Kazi Nazrul University, West Bengal.