Bhubaneswar, Jan. 24 -- In a powerful story of determination and resilience, Shankar Arun Bhil, hailing from a tribal Bhil family in Jalgaon district of Maharashtra, has achieved what many cannot even dream of. From working as a daily wage labourer to support his education, Shankar has now been selected for a PhD programme in Ethnic Studies at the prestigious University of California, San Diego (UCSD), marking a historic milestone in his life and for his community.

Born into a family with limited financial resources, Shankar faced systemic challenges common to many tribal households, including poverty, lack of access to educational infrastructure, and social marginalisation.

To continue his studies, he took up daily wage labour, balanci...