FROM VIDARBHA TO LONDON: A STORY OF ACCESS, IDENTITY AND OPPORTUNITY

Founder and CEO of the Eklavya India Foundation, Raju Kendre's journey is truly inspirational. Rising from a tribal community, he has reached remarkable heights. In this conversation, he speaks to us about his life, education, and future plans.

- 

From your roots in a tribal community in Vidarbha to studying at SOAS, University of London, how did your UK education shape your career and worldview?

Coming from a nomadic tribal community in Maharashtra, where my parents never completed primary school, studying abroad once felt unimaginable. As a first-generation learner from a vernacular-medium background, I carried a deep fear of speaking English and often wondered whether I would "fit in." But the moment I arrived in London, those worries began to fade. What struck me most was the UK's empathy—people were open, patient, and genuinely supportive of newcomers. The environment felt not only safe but profoundly inclusive.