Q1. Introduce your Family to us ?
My father, Sanjiv Yeduba Sonune, is the pillar of my family. He works as a Security Supervisor in a private company. My mother, Anita Sanjiv Sonune, is a housewife and is fond of tailoring. Both of them are very hardworking. My elder brother, Chaitanya Sanjiv Sonune, is doing his Master's in Social Science at TISS Mumbai; he loves reading books. My elder sister, Srushti Sanjiv Sonune, is pursuing B.Sc Microbiology and likes cooking different types of delicious food. My uncle has a small business, and my mama does a job for a living. My parents aspire to see all three of us succeed. They inspire me to never stop in any situation.

Q2. Why should you be awarded the Dakshana Scholarship?
I am a dedicated student towards my dream. My dream is to join IIT, but my family’s condition is not good, so they cannot afford JEE coaching. I continued my preparation from JNV Pune and cleared JEE Mains with a good percentile, but I couldn’t clear Advanced. Still, I have confidence that I will clear JEE, and that’s why I think I deserve the Dakshana Scholarship. If not selected, I will continue my preparation from home through self-study.

Q3. What is your ambition in life?
The ambition of my life is to contribute to my country in the technical field and help children achieve their dreams and get good education, just as I have received. My parents have sacrificed many of their hobbies and interests for me, and I want to become capable enough to afford their interests and ensure they never suffer again.

Q4. How would you like to contribute to the society and the world when you become a successful?
My dream is not only to become an engineer but also a kind-hearted person. Being from a rural area, I have seen students travel miles for education, and many drop out due to lack of resources. I want to open a school that ensures the overall development of students and helps them dream big. As an engineer, I want to contribute to the technical development of the country and the world.

Q5. Describe an incident in your life that has motivated/inspired you to do better
In my childhood, my parents migrated from my hometown to an industrial area in search of better livelihood. I was in hostel from 6th standard, but in lockdown I saw my parents working hard to manage our home. I came to know about the economic situation of our home. That incident taught me the importance of education in life and inspired me to do better so that I can fulfill their dreams. There was a session by an ISRO scientist in our school that inspired me to go into the technical field.

Q6. Tell us about your interests and hobbies?
My hobbies are writing poems, gardening, collecting twigs and flowers, and making creative art with them. I am also interested in travelling, reading books, and dancing.