Rajani was born into a family where both parents worked at a brick kiln. At the age of four, she lost her father, and her mother raised the children as a single parent. Poverty was a constant challenge, and being a girl meant facing discrimination from the start. Schooling was not considered important, yet Rajani held a quiet dream of education while watching other children go to school.

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She began by going to evening tuitions near home, but soon had to take care of her younger brother as her mother worked. Despite these responsibilities, her determination to study never waned. Deep inside, she always held onto the dream that one day she too would study.

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Life pushed her into marriage at the age of fourteen. Rajani’s life took a new turn when she became a single mother, raising her son alone. For his education and a better future, she took on multiple jobs: a doorkeeper on a school bus, a Yakult saleswoman, and later, a role at ITC Limited. She balanced all responsibilities at home, always prioritising her son’s education. But her dream of studying never faded.

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At the age of 27, filled with both fear and courage, she decided to go to school. With the encouragement of a school principal where she worked, she enrolled in Class 8th at Ramabai College and stepped into a classroom for the first time. Sitting in a classroom filled with students much younger was uncomfortable than her age. She felt every stare, but her desire to study was strong enough to combat these hurdles she faced along the way. She passed with good grades but had to take breaks. At 32, encouraged by a supportive teacher, she resumed her studies, completing her 9th and 10th with distinction. Despite pauses and setbacks, Rajani went on to complete her 10th and 12th grades. Many days involved long travels. Self-doubt often surfaced, making her wonder if it was too late to study. Yet, she kept going.

 

The challenges along her way were many. There were days she felt hopeless, asking herself why opportunities had come so late, or if she would ever find a stable career. But she reminded herself that this might be her last chance to study, and giving up was not an option. In those moments of doubt, her brother and son stood firmly by her side. Her son supported her academically, helping with difficult words and concepts. Their presence gave her the strength to continue when the path felt too heavy.

 

Since then, she has never looked back. Her journey continued with a graduation in commerce. While on her journey, she discovered a deep interestin law, and today she proudly stands in her final year of LLB.