A Keralite youth is trying to raise the funds for joining a post graduate programme in the UK as the deadline to get admission is nearing. Chandramohan S, a poet and freelance journalist, has secured admission for MA Creative Writing (full time), Poetry at University of East Anglia, UK. However, he could join the course only if he could raise nearly Rs 5 lakh in the next few days.
The total amount required to complete his studies Rs 32, 77,750 (£ 32,399). The Kerala government recently allotted a scholarship of Rs 25 lakh meant for students from the schedules castes for joining international universities. Chandramohan is trying to raise the remaining amount through crowdsourcing. He has launched a campaign in Milaap, an online fundraising platform.
He has raised Rs 3,07,966 (40 per cent of the required amount) as on Friday evening. The classes are scheduled to start on September 26 and Chandramohan will have to leave for the UK at least by September 16. However, he can schedule the journey only after finding sufficient funds.
"I am a Dalit poet writing in English for about 10 years and I have been offered admission for MA Creative Writing (Full time), Poetry at University of East Anglia, UK- one of the most prestigious creative writing programs in the UK. I will be one of the 15 students, out of 117 applicants from all over the world. I have been residing at Thiruvananthapuram for the past 10 years. My published collections of poetry include “Letters to Namdeo Dhasal” and “Love after Babel” both of which were shortlisted for the YUVA PURASKAR of Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi," Chandramaohan says in his introductory note as he seeks funds on the Milaap platform.
Chandramohan is an engineering graduate and he has chosen to pursue his studies in literature as it is his true passion. " I come from a middleclass background and I could finish my graduation only with the help of government assistance,Chandramohan, 35, told Onmanorama.
"Since I am knocking on all doors for financial assistance, if I am granted money by other sources (like if the UEA decides to give me full scholarship) , the money raised though crowd funding will be donated to PK ROSY FOUNDATION, a Dalit cultural collective, and TQT, a poetry collective, and to some Dalit artists who have requested financial relief publicly in platforms like Facebook," he said.