Access to books, if you are privileged, does not sound like a big deal. Access to an education is also, often, taken for granted by many of us. But for women like Tara Katti, born Shweta Katti, access to good books and education was a rare privilege. Brought up in a brothel in Mumbai’s Red Light District, Kamathipura, Katti’s journey with education has been difficult, and yet, enlightening. In conversation with Her Circle, Katti revealed that though she is well-known on social media as “the first girl from Kamathipura to get a full scholarship to study abroad”, going to a foreign university was not the end goal of her journey. In fact, it was the beginning to her journey to self-awareness, mental wellness, and holistic, inclusive education.
The UN Youth Courage Award winner explained that though she always had a bit of an obsession with reading, it was after watching one of the Harry Potter movies in Hindi that she first wanted to read works of fiction that could provide her an escape from the harsh realities of life. In 2011, she joined the NGO Kranti. Founded by renowned activist, Robin Chaurasiya, the NGO provides young girls from Kamathipura with a safe space to flourish in—so while Katti, with her interest in studies soon got a scholarship to study in Bard College in New York, her sisters were empowered to become artists.
It was after joining Kranti that Katti got more access to books, especially those in English. That apart, she was enabled to focus on her mental wellbeing. She explains how she’s had stable access to therapy and started meditating under the auspices of Chaurasiya as the years went by. What appeared as more of a challenge, was her own psyche and the challenge of utilising every opportunity to the hilt. The move to the US to study in 2013 brought up these challenges, and in our interview, Katti explains the emotional upheavals she went through at that time. She also highlights how most people tend to focus on the fact that she got a full scholarship, but not on the fact that she had to drop out because of these other challenges.
Katti’s story, as she herself puts it, is not about a few achievements. It’s all about the need to make education in our country—for all children everywhere—more holistic and inclusive. Scoring high marks or getting multiple degrees, and then getting a job and material benefits can change your life. But it’s only when our education empowers us to be more self-aware, when it enables us to prioritise our wellbeing in the long term, that’s when real social change is possible. To know more about Katti’s journey and her vision of providing holistic, inclusive education for all, watch the full interview.