Hey Hello everyone

My name is Basit Ali Haider, a comparative Humanities sophomore at Habib University in Karachi, Pakistan. I am honored to share that I have been selected by Habib University to attend the Summer Session 2026 at University of California, Berkeley, which is one of the world’s leading public universities. Fortunately, out of 300+ applicants, I was selected through a rigorous process and have been granted 75% scholarship.

I hail from the frontier belt, Dera Ismail Khan, a region profoundly plagued by conflict and instability. Growing up during the War on Terror, surviving a bomb blast, losing two uncles, along with professors and close family friends, I have been in the face of enmity, conflict and it’s resulting death throughout my life. Given the situation, my family decided to admit me into a boarding school at the age of 13, which drastically changed my way of thinking, helped me become more disciplined and independent. Being committed to education, I believe it is the only tool that can transform the region.

Despite all the challenges, I came out to the other side as a more resolute and strengthened individual. Through several scholarships, including one at Garrison Cadet College Kohat, and 100% HUTOPS scholarship at Habib University, I became the first person in my lineage to attend university. Currently, I am concentrating in History with a focus on South Asian History, borderlands, migration and subaltern studies.

My research revolves around marginal histories and the suppressed voices of borderland communities, the stories that are often unheard and excluded from the mainstream discourse. I believe education is a non-violent tool that restores dignity, memory and possibility.

What I plan to do at UC Berkeley is:

• Take advanced courses in History, Migration, Ethnic Studies, and Borderland Studies

• Strengthen archival and transregional research skills

• Engage with leading global scholars

• Build long-term academic networks

• Bring knowledge back to Pakistan to develop research and educational initiatives focused on marginalized communities

The total cost of the program is significant. Although I have received a 75% grant, I still need to raise $ 4467 USD to turn my dream into a reality.

Every contribution, no matter the size, brings me closer to achieving my dream. If you are unable to donate, sharing this campaign would mean just as much.

This is more than a summer program. It is an investment into the education of an emerging historian who is committed to transforming education into social impact and bridging the gap between the center and periphery.

Thank you for believing in my journey.

Basit Ali Haider