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Dear friends and well-wishers,
My name is Nari Kamakshi, and I come from Nagenahalli, a small village in North Karnataka. Today, I write to you with a heart full of pride, humility, and hope. I have been accepted into the PhD program in International Education and Development at the University of Sussex, one of the UK’s leading institutions, globally recognised for its work on education, equity, and social justice, which strongly aligns with my research area about youth-centred education.
I am a first-generation learner from a Devadasi family, raised by a single mother whose courage shaped my life. When she was only eight, my mother dreamt of becoming a Balawadi (pre-school) teacher. Instead, she was forced into the Devadasi system, a path chosen for her, not by her. Despite abandonment, poverty, and stigma, she raised five daughters on her own with fierce dignity. She passed on her interrupted dreams to me, not in words, but through her relentless fight for my right to learn.
This PhD is not mine alone; it belongs to my mother, my sisters, and to the many women in my community who were denied the chance to dream. It stands as living proof that the daughter of a Devadasi woman can become a researcher, a policymaker, and a voice for change. It is a beacon of what becomes possible when even one girl is given the freedom to imagine a different future. It sends a powerful message: we, too, deserve access to higher education, not by hiding who we are, but by standing proudly in our truth. This moment affirms to my community that we belong in these spaces, not despite where we come from, but because of it.
Our lives were full of uncertainty. I worked along with my mother in the field of North Karnataka as daily-wagers, and there were many days we didn’t know if we’d have food or whether I’d be allowed to stay in school. But my mother never gave up, and neither did I. I saw education as a form of survival, resistance, and dignity.
My lived experiences of growing up unseen and unsupported shaped my purpose. I have spent over a decade working with marginalised youth, especially girls from Dalit and Devadasi communities. I’ve mentored them through college applications, helped them survive hostile campuses, and encouraged them to believe in their right to dream. Through community-based work in Karnataka, I’ve supported young people in reclaiming their identities and resisting the stories society has written for them.
I completed my Master’s in Education at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai, with a focus on education development, policy, and teacher education. Coming from a Kannada-medium background, I struggled with language, academic gaps, and self-doubt. But I kept going, with long nights of study, the support of mentors, and a fire that came from knowing what was at stake.
TISS gave me the political and moral clarity to ask hard questions about power, caste, and access. I was proud to serve on the Placement Committee, representing not just myself, but others like me who had never had a seat at the table.
One of the most powerful experiences in my journey was working as a Research Assistant on the Devadasi Mothers and Children Bill. I integrated both research skills and lived experience, documenting stories, facilitating community consultations, and ensuring that the voices of Devadasi women were heard in policy spaces where they have long been silenced.
Yet the truth remains: very few girls from Devadasi communities in Karnataka make it to college, and most are first-generation learners. Early marriage, caste-based stigma, economic instability, and the absence of support systems continue to push them out of education. For us, continuing education is not just about a degree; it’s about protection from exploitation, access to dignity, and the right to shape our futures.
This PhD at Sussex will allow me to deepen my work by researching education systems through a decolonial and feminist lens, generating knowledge grounded in justice, and contributing to inclusive policy frameworks that respond to the realities of the most excluded. It is my way of honouring the struggle that raised me and opening more doors for those who come after me.
But today, I stand at a critical juncture. Two of my sisters are married, and the youngest two are still in college. As the only earning member of my family, I’ve taken on the responsibility of supporting them while carving out my path. I don’t own any property, financial support system, or networks, but I have something just as powerful: the belief that community care can make the impossible possible.
To begin this life-changing journey in September 2025, I urgently need financial support to cover my initial expenses: tuition, visa fees, health insurance, travel, and living costs. That’s why I am seeking support, to bridge this critical gap so that I don’t lose this opportunity. Every contribution, no matter how small, brings me closer to continuing this journey of justice, research, and representation.
If you can donate, share this appeal, or connect me with others who can support me, you are not just helping me access education; you are investing in the leadership of a woman shaped by struggle, committed to justice, and determined to carry forward the dreams of many.
Thank you, from the depths of my heart, for reading and supporting me.
With gratitude and hope,
Nari Kamakshi
Contribute via UPI: Google Pay - kamakshinn1997@okicici
My name is Nari Kamakshi, and I come from Nagenahalli, a small village in North Karnataka. Today, I write to you with a heart full of pride, humility, and hope. I have been accepted into the PhD program in International Education and Development at the University of Sussex, one of the UK’s leading institutions, globally recognised for its work on education, equity, and social justice, which strongly aligns with my research area about youth-centred education.
I am a first-generation learner from a Devadasi family, raised by a single mother whose courage shaped my life. When she was only eight, my mother dreamt of becoming a Balawadi (pre-school) teacher. Instead, she was forced into the Devadasi system, a path chosen for her, not by her. Despite abandonment, poverty, and stigma, she raised five daughters on her own with fierce dignity. She passed on her interrupted dreams to me, not in words, but through her relentless fight for my right to learn.
This PhD is not mine alone; it belongs to my mother, my sisters, and to the many women in my community who were denied the chance to dream. It stands as living proof that the daughter of a Devadasi woman can become a researcher, a policymaker, and a voice for change. It is a beacon of what becomes possible when even one girl is given the freedom to imagine a different future. It sends a powerful message: we, too, deserve access to higher education, not by hiding who we are, but by standing proudly in our truth. This moment affirms to my community that we belong in these spaces, not despite where we come from, but because of it.
Our lives were full of uncertainty. I worked along with my mother in the field of North Karnataka as daily-wagers, and there were many days we didn’t know if we’d have food or whether I’d be allowed to stay in school. But my mother never gave up, and neither did I. I saw education as a form of survival, resistance, and dignity.
My lived experiences of growing up unseen and unsupported shaped my purpose. I have spent over a decade working with marginalised youth, especially girls from Dalit and Devadasi communities. I’ve mentored them through college applications, helped them survive hostile campuses, and encouraged them to believe in their right to dream. Through community-based work in Karnataka, I’ve supported young people in reclaiming their identities and resisting the stories society has written for them.
I completed my Master’s in Education at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai, with a focus on education development, policy, and teacher education. Coming from a Kannada-medium background, I struggled with language, academic gaps, and self-doubt. But I kept going, with long nights of study, the support of mentors, and a fire that came from knowing what was at stake.
TISS gave me the political and moral clarity to ask hard questions about power, caste, and access. I was proud to serve on the Placement Committee, representing not just myself, but others like me who had never had a seat at the table.
One of the most powerful experiences in my journey was working as a Research Assistant on the Devadasi Mothers and Children Bill. I integrated both research skills and lived experience, documenting stories, facilitating community consultations, and ensuring that the voices of Devadasi women were heard in policy spaces where they have long been silenced.
Yet the truth remains: very few girls from Devadasi communities in Karnataka make it to college, and most are first-generation learners. Early marriage, caste-based stigma, economic instability, and the absence of support systems continue to push them out of education. For us, continuing education is not just about a degree; it’s about protection from exploitation, access to dignity, and the right to shape our futures.
This PhD at Sussex will allow me to deepen my work by researching education systems through a decolonial and feminist lens, generating knowledge grounded in justice, and contributing to inclusive policy frameworks that respond to the realities of the most excluded. It is my way of honouring the struggle that raised me and opening more doors for those who come after me.
But today, I stand at a critical juncture. Two of my sisters are married, and the youngest two are still in college. As the only earning member of my family, I’ve taken on the responsibility of supporting them while carving out my path. I don’t own any property, financial support system, or networks, but I have something just as powerful: the belief that community care can make the impossible possible.
To begin this life-changing journey in September 2025, I urgently need financial support to cover my initial expenses: tuition, visa fees, health insurance, travel, and living costs. That’s why I am seeking support, to bridge this critical gap so that I don’t lose this opportunity. Every contribution, no matter how small, brings me closer to continuing this journey of justice, research, and representation.
If you can donate, share this appeal, or connect me with others who can support me, you are not just helping me access education; you are investing in the leadership of a woman shaped by struggle, committed to justice, and determined to carry forward the dreams of many.
Thank you, from the depths of my heart, for reading and supporting me.
With gratitude and hope,
Nari Kamakshi
Contribute via UPI: Google Pay - kamakshinn1997@okicici
| Expense Item | Amount (GBP) | Amount (INR) |
| Tuition Fees (1st Year) | £22,575 | ₹26,33,741 |
| Visa Application Fee | £475 | ₹55,416 |
| Immigration Health Surcharge (3 yrs) | £3,105 | ₹3,62,255 |
| Maintenance Funds (Living – 9 months) | £9,207 | ₹10,74,165 |
| Housing Advance (Rent Deposit) | £476 | ₹55,512 |
| TB Test | £48 | ₹5,597 |
| One-way Flight to the UK | £570 | ₹66,475 |
| Fund requested here | £36,456 | ₹38,83,287 |
