Pathbreakers urge tribal youth to fight the odds

Linguistic barrier a challenge for youngsters in pursuing academics

Anjali Bhaskaran had led too marginalised a life that she did not even dare to dream while studying.

Yet, she ended up achieving the commendable feat of becoming the first veterinary doctor from her tribal community Paniya.

“I didn’t know that I was studying to be a doctor till the second or third year of the course. But now, I love this profession and want to serve my community as a veterinary surgeon,” said Ms. Bhaskaran, a resident of a Paniya colony at Pulpally in Wayanad. She was speaking to The Hindu on the sidelines of a gathering of tribal students here on Saturday. She was honoured at the function organised by Adi Shakti Summer School, a collective of Adivasi and Dalit youths under the Adivasi Gothra Maha Sabha.