My name is Purushottam Kumar, and I am a postdoctoral scholar at Caltech (California Institute of Technology). I am raising funds for Suman Kumari, a 20 yrs old student from Bhabua, Bihar, India, who has shown extraordinary courage and determination in pursuing education against immense social and financial odds.

Suman comes from a deeply conservative household where girls’ education is not supported. Although her father is a Ward Parshad (an elected representative) in the Bhabua municipality, he has never provided her with even basic resources to study. Her brother has actively discouraged her education, at times even tearing apart her books. Her mother, though supportive, is illiterate and has no voice in household decisions.

After completing high school, Suman made the difficult decision to leave her home so that she could continue studying. She began tutoring young children to earn just enough to survive and support her education. Despite these hardships, she enrolled in a four-year Bachelor of Science (BSc) program, and she is currently in her 6th semester.

Like many students from modest backgrounds, Suman aimed for a stable government job. Through sheer hard work, she cleared the written examination for the Bihar State Police, a significant achievement. Unfortunately, during physical training, she suffered a serious injury: bones in both her legs cracked. After months of treatment, doctors advised her not to pursue physically demanding careers again, forcing her to abandon this path entirely.

Her limited savings from tutoring were exhausted on medical treatment.

After careful consideration, Suman has now decided to prepare for SSC-CGL (Staff Selection Commission-Combined Graduate Level) and similar competitive examinations, career paths that rely on academic merit rather than physical endurance. However, she currently has no financial support to cover basic living expenses, exam preparation materials, coaching, or rent.

Suman presently lives in Patna, away from her family. Returning home is not an option, as doing so would mean losing her freedom permanently. She would likely be forced into early marriage within weeks, ending any chance of completing her education or becoming financially independent. This has already happened to her eldest sister, who was married at the age of 15–16 and was not allowed to continue her studies.

My family and I have been supporting Suman for several years in whatever limited ways we could - financially, emotionally, and through career guidance. But sustained support is now beyond what we can manage alone.

This is why I am reaching out to friends, colleagues, and kind-hearted well-wishers.

How Your Support Will Help:

Your contribution, even the cost of a cup of coffee, will help Suman with:

• Basic living expenses (rent, food, utilities)

• Study materials and exam fees

• Coaching and preparation resources for SSC-CGL

• Stability to focus on her studies without fear of displacement

For many of us, a small amount is insignificant. For Suman, it can mean the difference between education and forced dependence, between choice and compulsion, between hope and resignation.

Suman is not asking for charity, she is asking for a chance.

Thank you for reading, sharing, and supporting in any way you can.

With gratitude,

Purushottam Kumar

Postdoctoral Scholar, Caltech