Who Is Sarita Mali? Mumbai Flower Seller Girl Set To Pursue PhD

From selling flowers on pavements in Mumbai to pursuing a Ph.D programme at the University of California, Sarita Mali has proved that hard work, determination and positive thinking can turn one's life around. She is a native of Uttar Pradesh’s Jaunpur district raised in the slum area of Mumbai. She had to break various societal and financial barriers to carve her own destiny.

Who Is Sarita Mali? Here's everything you should know about her

• Sarita was a flower seller as a child. She would do this to supplement her father’s meagre income.
• She used to study in a Municipal school in Mumbai. She passed class X and started giving tuition to the kids in her locality to earn more. She saved enough money to take admission in KJ Somaiya College of Arts and Commerce.
• Not only this, she also pursued an MA degree in Hindi Literature from JNU after completing her graduation.
• At present, she is 28-years-old and all set to pursue a Ph.D programme at the University of California.

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• Her father supported her throughout her journey.
• She even took to Facebook to share her story. “I have always had a passion for studies. At the age of 22, I entered the world of research. I am happy that this journey will continue for another 7 years.”, she wrote.
• She wants to make use of her education for the betterment of the society. She wants to enter academia to highlight the woes of the marginalised sections of society. She wants to raise her voice for free education for street children. “Even today, when I see poor children running behind a car selling something on Delhi signals, I remember my childhood and the question arises in my mind. Will these children ever be able to read? What will their future be like?, she wrote.
• In her Facebook post, she also thanked all her teachers and mentors who have helped her in her journey
• She has an elder sister and two brothers who are in awe of everything their sister does. Inspired by her, they also started taking tuition and have been excelling in studies.