Q1. Introduce your Family to us ?
We are four members in our family—Father (Gajanan Patil), Mother (Lata Patil), Sister (Renuka), and me (Ritesh). My father does hard labour in farms that are not ours, for our family livelihood. He has been working in farms since his childhood due to lack of educational opportunities. My mother helps my father on the farm along with household work, but her health is poor, and she often falls ill. My sister Renuka completed her 10th last year and is now studying in class 11 in a nearby college. My uncle is a daily wage farm worker, which is the only source of income for his family.

Q2. Why should you be awarded the Dakshana Scholarship?
I believe that if I get good education, I can change my family’s condition. I believe that my words may not have an effect now, but they could have an effect if they realize the importance of education. If I was not selected for the Dakshana Program, I would have been one of those working for daily wages.

Q3. What is your ambition in life?
I want to complete the bare minimum needs of my family and society. I want to open a library in my village.

Q4. How would you like to contribute to the society and the world when you become a successful?
I will encourage my society to learn and explore things. Most of my friends are working as daily wage laborers at the age of 17 because they are unaware of the power of education.

Q5. Describe an incident in your life that has motivated/inspired you to do better
My father, still being a good farmer, listens to my grandfather’s advice about crops and production. This makes me motivated to do better and better.

Q6. Tell us about your interests and hobbies?
My interest is spending time with my family and learning a variety of things. My hobbies are reading books and learning from society.