Meet Resham Fatma, India's first acid attack survivor to win Chevening Scholarship
Resham Fatma, the first acid attack survivor from India to receive the Chevening Scholarship, will study at the London School of Economics. A decade after the attack, her journey from Jamia and JNU to LSE marks the role of education in rebuilding lives.
Resham Fatma has become the first acid attack survivor from India to receive the prestigious Chevening Scholarship, a fully funded programme supported by the UK Government. She will pursue a Master's degree at LSE, one of the world's leading universities.
Announcing the news on social media, she wrote, "I kept this dream to myself for a long time. Today, I can finally say it out loud."
For the 29-year-old from Jamshedpur, the journey to the London School of Economics (LSE) began long before she received her admission letter. It began nearly a decade ago, when an acid attack changed her life forever.
FROM SURVIVOR TO SCHOLAR
Resham refused to let one tragic incident define her future.
She completed her Bachelor of Science in Physics from Jamia Millia Islamia, before earning a Master's degree in Politics with a specialisation in International Relations from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).
Looking back on the past decade, she reflected, "Ten years ago, after the acid attack, there were countless moments when giving up felt easier than moving forward. But every time life knocked me down, I chose to stand up again."
Her journey from Jamia to JNU and now LSE has become a powerful example of how education can rebuild lives.
BUILDING HOPE FOR OTHERS
Resham's work extends far beyond academics.
She is the founder of the Ebrah Foundation, an organisation focused on helping girls and women access education, leadership opportunities and meaningful careers.
Through mentorship, community engagement and educational initiatives, she has supported students from diverse backgrounds and encouraged young women to pursue higher education.
She has also worked on media and public engagement initiatives, using storytelling to bring attention to issues affecting marginalised communities. Her work centres on education, gender equity, youth leadership and social inclusion.
COURAGE RECOGNISED, PURPOSE CONTINUES
Resham's courage has been recognised nationally. She received the National Bravery Award from the President of India in January 2015 and the Rani Laxmi Bai Bravery Award from the Uttar Pradesh government the following month.
Yet, she believes the latest milestone carries a larger purpose.
"I am the first acid attack survivor from India to receive the Chevening Scholarship. I carry this opportunity not just for myself, but for every girl who has ever been told that her dreams are too big," she wrote.
Calling the scholarship the beginning rather than the destination, she added, "This is not the destination. It's the beginning of an even bigger purpose."
As she prepares to leave for London, Resham is taking more than academic ambition with her. She is carrying a decade of resilience, years of public service, and the hope that her story will inspire others to believe that circumstances may shape life, but they do not have to define it.
Resham Fatma has become the first acid attack survivor from India to receive the prestigious Chevening Scholarship, a fully funded programme supported by the UK Government. She will pursue a Master's degree at LSE, one of the world's leading universities.
Announcing the news on social media, she wrote, "I kept this dream to myself for a long time. Today, I can finally say it out loud."
For the 29-year-old from Jamshedpur, the journey to the London School of Economics (LSE) began long before she received her admission letter. It began nearly a decade ago, when an acid attack changed her life forever.
FROM SURVIVOR TO SCHOLAR
Resham refused to let one tragic incident define her future.
She completed her Bachelor of Science in Physics from Jamia Millia Islamia, before earning a Master's degree in Politics with a specialisation in International Relations from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).
Looking back on the past decade, she reflected, "Ten years ago, after the acid attack, there were countless moments when giving up felt easier than moving forward. But every time life knocked me down, I chose to stand up again."
Her journey from Jamia to JNU and now LSE has become a powerful example of how education can rebuild lives.
BUILDING HOPE FOR OTHERS
Resham's work extends far beyond academics.
She is the founder of the Ebrah Foundation, an organisation focused on helping girls and women access education, leadership opportunities and meaningful careers.
Through mentorship, community engagement and educational initiatives, she has supported students from diverse backgrounds and encouraged young women to pursue higher education.
She has also worked on media and public engagement initiatives, using storytelling to bring attention to issues affecting marginalised communities. Her work centres on education, gender equity, youth leadership and social inclusion.
COURAGE RECOGNISED, PURPOSE CONTINUES
Resham's courage has been recognised nationally. She received the National Bravery Award from the President of India in January 2015 and the Rani Laxmi Bai Bravery Award from the Uttar Pradesh government the following month.
Yet, she believes the latest milestone carries a larger purpose.
"I am the first acid attack survivor from India to receive the Chevening Scholarship. I carry this opportunity not just for myself, but for every girl who has ever been told that her dreams are too big," she wrote.
Calling the scholarship the beginning rather than the destination, she added, "This is not the destination. It's the beginning of an even bigger purpose."
As she prepares to leave for London, Resham is taking more than academic ambition with her. She is carrying a decade of resilience, years of public service, and the hope that her story will inspire others to believe that circumstances may shape life, but they do not have to define it.
Resham Fatma has become the first acid attack survivor from India to receive the prestigious Chevening Scholarship, a fully funded programme supported by the UK Government. She will pursue a Master's degree at LSE, one of the world's leading universities.
Announcing the news on social media, she wrote, "I kept this dream to myself for a long time. Today, I can finally say it out loud."
For the 29-year-old from Jamshedpur, the journey to the London School of Economics (LSE) began long before she received her admission letter. It began nearly a decade ago, when an acid attack changed her life forever.
FROM SURVIVOR TO SCHOLAR
Resham refused to let one tragic incident define her future.
She completed her Bachelor of Science in Physics from Jamia Millia Islamia, before earning a Master's degree in Politics with a specialisation in International Relations from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).
Looking back on the past decade, she reflected, "Ten years ago, after the acid attack, there were countless moments when giving up felt easier than moving forward. But every time life knocked me down, I chose to stand up again."
Her journey from Jamia to JNU and now LSE has become a powerful example of how education can rebuild lives.
BUILDING HOPE FOR OTHERS
Resham's work extends far beyond academics.
She is the founder of the Ebrah Foundation, an organisation focused on helping girls and women access education, leadership opportunities and meaningful careers.
Through mentorship, community engagement and educational initiatives, she has supported students from diverse backgrounds and encouraged young women to pursue higher education.
She has also worked on media and public engagement initiatives, using storytelling to bring attention to issues affecting marginalised communities. Her work centres on education, gender equity, youth leadership and social inclusion.
COURAGE RECOGNISED, PURPOSE CONTINUES
Resham's courage has been recognised nationally. She received the National Bravery Award from the President of India in January 2015 and the Rani Laxmi Bai Bravery Award from the Uttar Pradesh government the following month.
Yet, she believes the latest milestone carries a larger purpose.
"I am the first acid attack survivor from India to receive the Chevening Scholarship. I carry this opportunity not just for myself, but for every girl who has ever been told that her dreams are too big," she wrote.
Calling the scholarship the beginning rather than the destination, she added, "This is not the destination. It's the beginning of an even bigger purpose."
As she prepares to leave for London, Resham is taking more than academic ambition with her. She is carrying a decade of resilience, years of public service, and the hope that her story will inspire others to believe that circumstances may shape life, but they do not have to define it.
