The Pehli Peedi Fellowship is our effort to centre their experiences and bring visibility to the structural barriers they confront. As we bring you the next story, we are also excited to introduce the fellow behind it—Riya Mishra
Riya is a second-year Political Science student at the University of Delhi with a growing interest in law, global governance, and international arbitration. As a Pehli Peedi Fellow, she is driven by a deep belief in the power of storytelling to challenge dominant narratives and illuminate the lived realities of first-generation college students. Drawing from her background in debate, community engagement, and personal advocacy—including a TEDx talk on body image and self-acceptance—Riya brings both empathy and insight to her work. She views this Fellowship as an opportunity to build nuanced, human-centered narratives that go beyond struggle to capture the complexity, ambition, and strength of those too often left unheard. Through careful listening and thoughtful storytelling, she hopes to contribute to a more just and inclusive conversation around education and equity.
