Hope in my eyes and eager to begin a new life of academia and possibilities, I decided to pursue a Master of Law at the University of Cambridge. Had it not been for the Prathiba M. Singh Cambridge Scholarship and Cambridge Commonwealth Trust, it would have been a pipedream – I would forever be grateful to Hon’ble Justice Singh.
I begin to understand with more clarity now that my experience at Cambridge taught me a fundamental thing – never be daunted and always believe in the process – which I still swear by. My initial weeks at Cam tested my strength, introduced me to friends and mentors for a lifetime, acclimatised me to the eccentric weather, made me in charge of my meals and life – all very thrilling and terrifying at once. Soon my life was buzzing with lectures, assignments, and long nights and hot coffee in the Newnham college library.
My college was all-girls, and I was for the first time in that sort of setup. But I must say these women were incredible in every bit – they exuded strength, compassion, beauty, the new future. There was always much to learn from them and others. You truly appreciate the diversity and dissents.
The entire university town in fact had a mixed vibe – sleepy and tranquil at night and days filled with polite debates, the sighs of punters on River Cam, swooshing of scarf-wearing students on bicycles, and excited murmurs of new students. Studying amidst lofty towers and ornamented archways, green meadows and weeping willows, it conjures up nostalgia. A longing for the picturesque. It was a dreamy town. Cam is a dreamy town.
Speaking of my courses, I did not expect to become an expert on any of them – including IPR and antitrust. On the contrary, my biggest takeaway was ‘be a lifelong learner’. I used to exhaust my curiosity on rather very patient professors. Timely and thought-out assignments, not missing classes, and studying actively helped me get across to the finale. My searching spirit also let me work as the sponsorship officer of the Cambridge Graduate Law Society, be on the editorial board of the UK Supreme Court Yearbook, and try my hands at badminton and rowing.
I was fortunate to experience the colourful and unique culture of Cambridge – abound with formal halls, social and political events, light festivals, and even the far-flung land of Nessie and Highlanders, Scotland. I physically bade adieu to the university post-graduation, but it stays in my heart like a lingering smile.
All that said, each of us sketch innumerable life paths. Whether one attends such universities or not, life does not stop there. What matters is not what we inherit but where we begin. I would say, just ‘keep off the grass’ and create the cumulative wisdom of humanity.