Village School to TISS Mumbai is not just my story; it is proof that rural students can achieve extraordinary success through determination and learning.

It tells them that success belongs to people who are born in cities, study in English-medium schools, and come from families that can afford opportunities. It tells them that their village, their language, and their financial condition have already decided their future.

For many years, I believed this too.

Today, when students look at my educational and professional journey, they often see the achievements. What they do not see are the struggles, doubts, sacrifices, and countless moments of uncertainty that came before them.

This is the story of how a village boy from Odisha found his way to TISS Mumbai—and the lessons that journey taught him.

A Childhood Shaped by Sacrifice Which Made the Village School to TISS Mumbai: A Turning Point

I was born in 1993 in a small village in Bhadrak district of Odisha.

My childhood was not defined by abundance. Like many rural families, we faced financial hardships. There were times when arranging three proper meals a day was difficult. Every rupee mattered, and every expense required careful thought.

My father worked tirelessly to support our family.

He was an artist in a local Jatra party, earning around ₹4,000 per month. When there was no work in the theatre, he sold sarees by travelling from village to village. At other times, he worked as a farm labourer to earn additional income.

I often watched him return home exhausted after long days of work.

As a child, I did not fully understand the financial challenges he was carrying. But I understood one thing clearly—sacrifice.

I saw a father who consistently put his family’s future before his own comfort.

Somewhere during those years, I made a silent promise to myself:

One day, I will make my parents proud.

The Battle with Self-Doubt

I studied in an Odia-medium government school.

My English was weak. I struggled with self-confidence and suffered from significant stage fear. Speaking in front of others made me uncomfortable, and I often felt intimidated by students from urban backgrounds.

Whenever I compared myself with students studying in private schools or English-medium institutions, I felt inadequate.

Many rural students experience this feeling.

The challenge is not only poverty. The challenge is the belief that we are somehow less capable than others.

Over time, I realised something important.

The biggest obstacle in my life was not my village.

It was not my school.

It was not my financial condition.

The biggest obstacle was my own self-doubt.

The day I understood this was the day my journey truly began.

Dreaming Beyond My Circumstances

Instead of accepting limitations, I started working on myself.

I focused on improving my English. I developed better study habits. I began reading more. I pushed myself outside my comfort zone and challenged the beliefs that had been holding me back.

Progress was slow.

There were no overnight transformations.

But every small improvement gave me confidence to continue.

During this period, I learned about the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai—one of India’s most respected institutions in social sciences and development studies.

For a student from a rural background with limited exposure, the dream felt almost impossible.

Yet I learned one of the most valuable lessons of my life:

Dreams do not need permission from circumstances.

I stopped asking whether I was capable.

Instead, I started asking:

What do I need to do to become capable?

That shift changed everything.

The Day Everything Changed

I prepared seriously.

I worked hard.

I remained disciplined.

And in 2013, my efforts were rewarded.

I cleared the TISSNET examination, successfully completed the Group Discussion and Personal Interview process, and secured admission to TISS Mumbai for a Master’s programme in Social Work.

I still remember the moment I received the news.

The first person I wanted to speak to was my father.

I called him.

As soon as I heard his voice, emotions overwhelmed me.

For years, I had watched him struggle.

I had seen him sacrifice his comfort, his health, and his dreams so that his children could have opportunities he never had.

When I told him that I had been selected for TISS Mumbai, he became emotional too.

That conversation remains one of the most memorable moments of my life.

It was not just my achievement.

It belonged to my parents.

It belonged to every sacrifice they had made.

It belonged to every difficult day that had brought us to that moment.

What TISS Really Taught Me

Getting into TISS was not the destination.

It was only the beginning.

The experience exposed me to new ideas, new perspectives, and people from diverse backgrounds across India. More importantly, it taught me that talent exists everywhere.

Opportunity does not.

Many brilliant students never discover their true potential simply because they lack exposure, guidance, mentorship, and confidence.

This realisation later became one of the driving forces behind my work in education, mentorship, and social development.

I wanted to help young people, especially those from rural backgrounds, realise what I had learned through my own journey:

Your circumstances may influence your starting point, but they do not determine your destination.

A Message to Every Rural Student

If you are studying in a government school, an Odia-medium school, or a small village somewhere in India, I want you to remember this:

Your village school does not define your future.

Your financial condition does not define your future.

Your medium of education does not define your future.

What shapes your future is your willingness to learn, your discipline, your consistency, and your courage to keep moving forward even when the path is uncertain.

Never be ashamed of where you come from.

Your roots are not your weakness.

They are your strength.

The struggles you face today may become the very stories that inspire others tomorrow.

Keep learning.

Keep growing.

Keep believing.

Because your journey has only just begun.

About the Author:

Prakash Chandra Mallick is a PhD Scholar at IIT, Patna, social development professional, mentor, and founder of Odia IITian Mentor. Coming from a rural background and an Odia-medium education, he believes that mentorship, education, and self-belief can transform lives. Through his writings and guidance, he aims to help students from rural and underserved communities unlock their potential and pursue meaningful careers.

For more information and guidance: https://odiaiitianmentor.com/guidance/

Learn more about TISS: https://tiss.ac.in/