The Pehli Peedi Fellowship is our effort to centre the experiences of first-generation college students 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—Hisan.
Hisan is a Sociology student who has recently completed three years of the Integrated Master of Arts programme at Hyderabad Central University. Hailing from Alappuzha, Kerala, she brings a thoughtful academic curiosity and a strong commitment to understanding how social structures shape the everyday lives of young people.
Her journey in the social sciences has nurtured a long-standing aspiration to build a career in academia. At the same time, she remains deeply rooted in the belief that scholarship must contribute meaningfully to society, especially through grounded, practical forms of social work. It is this dual commitment—to intellectual inquiry and to tangible social impact—that draws her to the Pehli Peedhi Fellowship.
Through the fellowship, Hisan hopes to engage closely with the experiences of first-generation learners, listening to their stories with care and documenting their journeys with integrity. She sees this opportunity as a way to bridge research with practice—using her sociological training to highlight the systemic barriers students face while also celebrating their resilience. For her, this work is not only about storytelling; it is about amplifying voices that matter and contributing to a more just and inclusive understanding of education.
