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**Every dream deserves a chance — and sometimes, your support is all it takes.**
Hi, I am Atul, and I have been recently accepted to the Master of Data Science in Public Policy (MDS) at the Hertie School, Berlin, Germany. It is a unique program that blends data science and policy processes and prepares students to use quantitative skills needed for policy recommendations. It is exactly what I need to work on complex issue such as livelihood, climate, and social equity.
Background:
I was born into a Dalit family in rural Bihar. My mother — the first woman in our village to complete matriculation — raised five children almost single-handedly. My father had no formal job and is now a senior citizen facing multiple health issues. Growing up, my mother would often say, “Value every coin — it can change your life.” I didn’t fully understand it then, but I do now.
Belonging to a Dalit family and financially weak, if I have compared myself with the privileges I have seen in others, I would say, my life has been a bit difficult. Studying in a Catholic-supported Hindi medium school and having no money for extra circular activities, my childhood was very difficult. I was always interested in studying classical singing; however, my parents didn’t have extra money to fund my singing tuitions. Living in a rented house, having no owned land, they had a hard time financing our extra tuition classes.
Growing up, I have also faced discrimination when people assumed my caste based on my skin colour, and when they get to know about my caste, they used to maintain a distance. I cannot forget that incident when my friend’s parents asked him to end our friendship with me because they don’t want to mingle with a person belonging to a lower caste.
Having experienced all these, I never let them affect my grades and I always scored top in my class. In my 10th board I was the second topper and, in my 12th, where I shifted from Hindi to English language, I scored very well. My parents have always thought about doing a conventional or a government job for a secured income, however, I wanted to explore beyond my city and with good marks I got admission in University of Delhi in 2014 for my under graduation.
What Have I Done?
I am a smart kid, scored very well in my 12th , and was admitted into Ramjas College, University of Delhi for my undergraduate. During my undergraduate, I volunteered with NGOs and college societies, working on environmental awareness, organizing donation drives, and teaching underprivileged children. These experiences exposed me to the deep inequalities and injustices people face — many of which I had also lived through.
After graduation, I paused my studies to support my family financially. In 2019, I resumed my academic journey at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Hyderabad, where I pursued Development Studies.
Since 2021, I’ve worked as a Research Assistant on various public policy and impact evaluation projects. I’ve contributed to studies on migration, early childhood development among construction and brick kiln workers, and Bihar’s poverty alleviation schemes. One experience especially stayed with me: in North Bihar, even with financial aid, families couldn’t sustain livelihoods due to recurring floods. It taught me how climate vulnerability intersects with poverty and caste — and the urgent need for inclusive, data-driven policy design.
Future Plans
I’ve been accepted into the Master of Data Science for Public Policy (MDS) at the Hertie School in Berlin — a unique program that combines my interest in public policy with cutting-edge data science tools.
Completing my course, I want to return to India and work with consultancy firms that support the government in developing effective policies. Especially for people affected by continuous floods and want to explore poverty with the inclusion of climate induced livelihood shifts as a factor.
The MDS program will equip me with the analytical and quantitative skills I need to study livelihood shifts under climate stress, and to design effective, inclusive policies that reach the most marginalized communities.
My long-term goal is to return to India and contribute to evidence-based policymaking that creates meaningful impact, particularly in areas of climate adaptation, caste equity, and rural development.
What Do I Want From You
While I’ve secured a 50% scholarship, I still need about ₹20 lakhs to fund the remaining tuition, visa costs, and the blocked account required for living expenses in Germany.
Here’s a transparent breakdown of the costs:
Your support will help me turn this hard-earned opportunity into a reality. It’s not just an investment in my education — but in a future where more inclusive and responsive policies shape lives and livelihoods.
Even a small contribution brings me closer to a dream I’ve fought hard for. I’ll carry your support with me to Berlin — and back to the communities I aim to serve. By supporting me, you’re not just funding one student — you’re empowering the communities I’ll serve through better policy.
If you believe in the power of education, equity, and social justice, I invite you to contribute to this journey — either by donating, or simply by sharing my story with your networks.
Feel free to reach out to me at: atulbbarti@gmail.com
Thank you for reading. Thank you for believing in dreams.
– Atul Bharti
Hi, I am Atul, and I have been recently accepted to the Master of Data Science in Public Policy (MDS) at the Hertie School, Berlin, Germany. It is a unique program that blends data science and policy processes and prepares students to use quantitative skills needed for policy recommendations. It is exactly what I need to work on complex issue such as livelihood, climate, and social equity.
Background:
I was born into a Dalit family in rural Bihar. My mother — the first woman in our village to complete matriculation — raised five children almost single-handedly. My father had no formal job and is now a senior citizen facing multiple health issues. Growing up, my mother would often say, “Value every coin — it can change your life.” I didn’t fully understand it then, but I do now.
Belonging to a Dalit family and financially weak, if I have compared myself with the privileges I have seen in others, I would say, my life has been a bit difficult. Studying in a Catholic-supported Hindi medium school and having no money for extra circular activities, my childhood was very difficult. I was always interested in studying classical singing; however, my parents didn’t have extra money to fund my singing tuitions. Living in a rented house, having no owned land, they had a hard time financing our extra tuition classes.
Growing up, I have also faced discrimination when people assumed my caste based on my skin colour, and when they get to know about my caste, they used to maintain a distance. I cannot forget that incident when my friend’s parents asked him to end our friendship with me because they don’t want to mingle with a person belonging to a lower caste.
Having experienced all these, I never let them affect my grades and I always scored top in my class. In my 10th board I was the second topper and, in my 12th, where I shifted from Hindi to English language, I scored very well. My parents have always thought about doing a conventional or a government job for a secured income, however, I wanted to explore beyond my city and with good marks I got admission in University of Delhi in 2014 for my under graduation.
What Have I Done?
I am a smart kid, scored very well in my 12th , and was admitted into Ramjas College, University of Delhi for my undergraduate. During my undergraduate, I volunteered with NGOs and college societies, working on environmental awareness, organizing donation drives, and teaching underprivileged children. These experiences exposed me to the deep inequalities and injustices people face — many of which I had also lived through.
After graduation, I paused my studies to support my family financially. In 2019, I resumed my academic journey at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Hyderabad, where I pursued Development Studies.
Since 2021, I’ve worked as a Research Assistant on various public policy and impact evaluation projects. I’ve contributed to studies on migration, early childhood development among construction and brick kiln workers, and Bihar’s poverty alleviation schemes. One experience especially stayed with me: in North Bihar, even with financial aid, families couldn’t sustain livelihoods due to recurring floods. It taught me how climate vulnerability intersects with poverty and caste — and the urgent need for inclusive, data-driven policy design.
Future Plans
I’ve been accepted into the Master of Data Science for Public Policy (MDS) at the Hertie School in Berlin — a unique program that combines my interest in public policy with cutting-edge data science tools.
Completing my course, I want to return to India and work with consultancy firms that support the government in developing effective policies. Especially for people affected by continuous floods and want to explore poverty with the inclusion of climate induced livelihood shifts as a factor.
The MDS program will equip me with the analytical and quantitative skills I need to study livelihood shifts under climate stress, and to design effective, inclusive policies that reach the most marginalized communities.
My long-term goal is to return to India and contribute to evidence-based policymaking that creates meaningful impact, particularly in areas of climate adaptation, caste equity, and rural development.
What Do I Want From You
While I’ve secured a 50% scholarship, I still need about ₹20 lakhs to fund the remaining tuition, visa costs, and the blocked account required for living expenses in Germany.
Here’s a transparent breakdown of the costs:
Your support will help me turn this hard-earned opportunity into a reality. It’s not just an investment in my education — but in a future where more inclusive and responsive policies shape lives and livelihoods.
Even a small contribution brings me closer to a dream I’ve fought hard for. I’ll carry your support with me to Berlin — and back to the communities I aim to serve. By supporting me, you’re not just funding one student — you’re empowering the communities I’ll serve through better policy.
If you believe in the power of education, equity, and social justice, I invite you to contribute to this journey — either by donating, or simply by sharing my story with your networks.
Feel free to reach out to me at: atulbbarti@gmail.com
Thank you for reading. Thank you for believing in dreams.
– Atul Bharti
