School of Social and Political Science

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Why did you choose to study your programme? Why the University of Edinburgh?

I was an IT engineer working at Cognizant Technology Solutions, a US-based multinational company. In 2018 I made the life changing decision to resign from this promising IT career to work at the grassroot levels in my beloved state, Uttarakhand. My vision was to bring meaningful transformation to rural communities through sustainable livelihoods, particularly in agriculture. To truly understand the challenges people face I spent a year living with villagers, listening to their needs and concerns. From a research perspective, it was ethnological learning.

I then approached various government departments to share these insights and explore relevant policies to help them solve those problems. I discovered a major issue: different departments had fragmented policies with conflicting eligibility criteria. For instance, where the Horticulture Department had schemes for food cultivation, the same area lacked a water supply. Conversely, areas where the Agriculture Department had provided irrigation, lacked access to quality seeds. These policy gaps made me realise the urgent need for systemic change. I felt that understanding public policy formulation, monitoring and evaluation is very crucial. Also, in my view, Uttarakhand's political leadership has long been over dependent on bureaucratic control, contributing to inequalities in the hilly and the plain regions. I aspired to become a changemaker with a strong foundation policy and that's what led me to pursue a masters in Public Policy.

The University of Edinburgh stood out to me as one of the world's most reputed institutions in Public Policy. Beyond its ranking, it has historical legacy, vibrant academic involvement and emphasis on interdisciplinary learning. All of that made it the ideal place for my studies.

How did you get to where you are?

My journey has been shaped by a deep-rooted passion for serving my country. Whilst pursuing my masters at Edinburgh, I chose a dissertation topic which closely aligned with my long-term mission of promoting AI and technological literacy in the Himalayan region of India, especially for the underserved youth of the region. The research and insights I gained during this period laid the groundwork for what came next.

Upon returning to India I founded Kalpavriksha Sustainable Development Society, an NGO focused on bridging the digital divide in underserved Himalayan communities. Today I serve as a full-time founder and lead the organisation’s strategy and operation - from curriculum development to the on-the-ground execution of training programmes. We have conducted 5 residential bootcamps and trained over 200 students so far, and most recently we hosted our state-level bootcamp for 68 highly meritorious rural students. Our interventions span from students in grade 6 to workforce-ready youth, empowering them with 21st century skills such as Python programming, mobile app development and changemaker leadership.

Building upon this mission, I also co-founded Efiwe, a social-impact edtech initiative inspired by my Edinburgh dissertation. Efiwe is a mobile-first, gamified learning platform that works even in offline environments, enabling students in remote or low-connectivity regions to learn coding and digital skills seamlessly. It extends the vision of Kalpavriksha globally - democratising access to future skills for the next billion learners across India, Nigeria, and the Global South.

How have you used the knowledge and skills gained from your time at Edinburgh in your career journey? What did you gain from your time at the University?

Quite honestly, without the training I received at Edinburgh, I don't think I could have effectively run my organisation. I had an IT background and switched to a social science background, so didn't have a good understanding of social science research. Everything I know today is because of the skills I acquired from the University. The skills I developed were in research design, policy evaluation, evidence-based analysis and academic writing. These are now core to my daily responsibilities, from writing our annual report to collecting impact data from our bootcamps and developing policy briefs for advocacy. Every skill I use today is a direct outcome of my time at Edinburgh. The University also helped shape my world view and provided me with the critical thinking and resilience necessary to lead a mission-driven organisation. I'm really grateful to the University for shaping both my professional and personal growth.

What 3 words describe your time studying at the School of Social and Political Science?

Transformative, insightful, empowering.

What is your favourite memory from your time studying at the University of Edinburgh (or SPS)?

My whole year was memorable. I lived in Pentland House accommodation, and it was filled with the wonderful memories of living with warm, supportive flatmates. Luckily I had very good flatmates, and they were from diverse backgrounds. Living with them for a whole year made my experience incredibly joyful, and the friendship and laughter we shared made it a lifelong memory. The year after my masters I got married, and they came to my wedding! It was a super emotional connection with them, so that's why they came. It was a pleasure.

What advice would you give yourself if you were just starting your academic journey?

Take time to strengthen your critical thinking, as it will be essential for essay writing and classroom discussions. Be intentional about networking - not just with your classmates, but across departments and events. And above all, don't forget to enjoy the experience of living in one of the most beautiful and historic cities in the world. 

Written 2025