The Pehli Peedi Fellowship presents the first in a series of stories highlighting the experiences of first-generation students across India.
Kareena, a spirited 21-year-old first-generation learner, reflects on her life with striking clarity. “Life is full of hardships and profoundly dark moments that can leave deep scars. Yet, in those very moments, we often find ‘glimmers’—small yet radiant moments of hope and happiness that lift us up,” she says. Citing economist James Heckman, she adds, “Some kids win the lottery at birth; far too many don’t—and most people struggle to catch up.”
Read her full story below. Profile by Prachi.
Prachi: Hi Kareena, could you tell me about yourself?
Kareena: Hello, I’m Kareena. I’m 21 years old. My hometown is the small village of Bhagnari, in Tehsil Shillai of Sirmaur district, Himachal Pradesh. There are eight members in my immediate family—I have four sisters and two brothers—and I’m the first person in my family to join a university. I belong to a tribal community known as the Hatti community of Sirmaur.
Prachi: Can you tell me more about the tribe you come from?
Kareena: We received our Scheduled Tribe status only recently, in 2023. My community, the Hatti, is native to the Trans-Giri region of Himachal Pradesh. A polyandrous marriage in July 2025—between two brothers and a woman—which openly embraced our traditional Jodidara custom, brought the community into wider public attention.
Polyandry, or a woman marrying more than one man at the same time, still exists in our community. I’ve seen several such marriages within my extended family. My own aunt has two husbands. So does my maasi. They share what seems like a harmonious relationship.
I personally see polyandry as a regressive practice—against the rights and autonomy of women. But education is slowly changing mindsets. Many educated women no longer conform to this tradition. Still, I don’t openly challenge my elders because coming from a different generation, it’s very hard to convince them.
Prachi: Have these traditions impacted your life?
Kareena: Yes, absolutely. When I was younger, I thought polyandry was normal—just the way things were. But outside my community, people looked down on me because I was Hatti. There’s a strong stereotype that everyone in our community practices polyandry, which is not true. As I grew older, I realised it wasn’t normal for me and that these beliefs needed questioning.
Prachi: Tell me about your schooling and college.
Kareena: I studied only in government schools. I completed my matriculation at the Government School in Kharkhan, around 6–7 km from my home. We had to walk because there are still no proper roads, and the school has now been shut down.
Later, I moved to Shillai and completed Class 12 from the Government School there. Many of my classmates—especially girls—got married during this time. Some chose it, but many entered marriage without guidance or understanding.
I did my college in Shillai as well. Most of my semesters were during the lockdown. It wasn’t my dream college, but I had no information and no resources, so I stayed where I felt safest.
Prachi: Tell me about your parents and their support for your education.
Kareena: My father is a carpenter and my mother is a homemaker. Both also work on our farm, as agriculture is the backbone of our family’s livelihood. They never went to school, but they consistently motivated me to study. They believe education is independence.
My father, despite never having attended school, speaks remarkably good English—he worked as a tourist guide in Shimla when he was young.
Prachi: What was your college experience like?
Kareena: My class at Government College Shillai had almost 250 students. There were more girls than boys—not because girls were encouraged, but because parents didn’t want to send daughters far from home. Boys had choices; girls had only two: get married or attend the nearest college.
I had no idea what CUET was. There was no coaching culture anywhere around us. I was utterly unaware of opportunities.
Prachi: Have you faced caste discrimination?
Kareena: Not directly. But I witnessed it in school. Upper-caste and lower-caste students were made to sit in separate rows. Until Class 5, I thought it was normal. “Don’t touch them! Don’t befriend them!”—this was deliberately taught.
I’ve also faced discrimination because of stereotypes about the Hatti community.
Prachi: How has your university experience been? What challenges did you face?
Kareena: I joined Himachal Pradesh University in 2024. It’s much better than my college, though still lacking in many areas.
When I arrived, the challenges felt overwhelming. I knew no one. I didn’t even know how to reach the university. Finding a hostel and completing all the paperwork alone was very stressful. But once the hostel allotted me a room, it felt like a sigh of relief—a small refuge.
Prachi: Do you feel seen or heard on campus? Where do you feel you belong?
Kareena: Yes. People from Himachal are inherently warm and humble. For me, the hostel truly feels like a home away from home.
Prachi: Do you face academic pressure? How do you manage it?
Kareena: As the eldest daughter, I carry a huge responsibility. After my father, the family looks to me for financial decisions. I’ve set a deadline for myself to secure a job within a year or two.
I worry—what if my advice is wrong?
To manage stress, I immerse myself in my hobbies. I love stitching clothes. I’ve completed a course in tailoring. I also enjoy watching movies.
Prachi: What’s your favourite movie, and what kind of clothes do you stitch?
Kareena: I stitch salwar-suits for my mother and other women in my village.
My favourite movie is Bumm Bumm Bhole by Priyadarshan—an Indian adaptation of the Iranian classic Children of Heaven by Majid Majidi.
Prachi: What have you discovered about yourself through this journey?
Kareena: That I can survive the worst. I’ve learned to cherish small acts of kindness.
For example, my roommate has a locomotor disability in her left hand, so I help by trimming her nails. It’s a small gesture, but she tears up every time. It humbles me deeply.
Prachi: What advice would you give to first-generation learners?
Kareena: Don’t overthink. Don’t be afraid. Fear only clouds your ability to find solutions.
This is an ongoing series of profiles documenting the experiences of young people across India. Stay tuned for more stories from first-generation students across India. Follow us on social media for more updates.