Author: Ruhi Khan
Publication: NDTV.com
Date: August 14, 2007
URL: http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20070022527&ch=8/14/2007%209:25:00%20AM
A 28-year-old from Mumbai has become the first
Dalit to get enrolled in a PhD program in the US, who will study clinical
social work.
But the man with his roots firmly in India
has made sure over the years that he does his bit for the community and for
others from a less privileged background like himself.
''Without reservations I would not have been
here. I would have probably been a shepherd or a landless farmer. There are
so many who are deserving but don't get the opportunities,'' said Deelip Mhaske,
PhD student, University of Pennsylvania, USA.
From a small school in drought-prone Jalna
district of Maharashtra to the IIT campus and now in Philadelphia for clinical
social work, Deelip's has been an eventful journey.
''It's not about merit, it's about giving
people the opportunities. People are made meritorious because of the training
they get. And I've benefited because of the training and support I have got
from institutes like IIT and TISS,'' said Deelip.
World Congress
Last year Deelip was nominated for the Jonathan
Mann award for Global Heath and Human rights.
Earlier too he was the first Indian to be
part of the World Congress on rights of children organized by the UNICEF in
2005.
But Deelip never forgot that he came from
a family of Dalit farmers and worked ceaselessly to propose a policy to the
state government that would help 18 lakh landless famers finally own land.
''The more hurdles Deelip faced in his life,
the more he was determined to overcome them,'' said Sangeeta Mhaske, Deelip's
Sister.
Hardships motivated Deelip to reach out to
80,000 slum dwellers in Kandivali by organising medical camps, setting up
slum schools and providing legal and career guidance.
''Deelip forced us to send our young girl
to Mumbai so that they can be put to English medium school and have better
education here,'' said Rajendra Mhaske, Deelip's brother.
Following Deelip's footsteps are his nieces
- 13-year-old Kalpana and five-year-old Apporva who now know that hard work
and education can overcome all social barriers.
