Bahujan Scholars

Historically, disadvantaged communities in India have faced significant barriers to accessing education. This exclusion continues to be a pressing issue, particularly in higher education. disadvantaged communities are underrepresented in elite institutions, and systemic barriers hinder their ability to earn degrees. Despite decades of this status quo, systemic change seems elusive. Research demonstrates the positive impact of mentoring on mentees' outcomes and their engagement in their communities. Mentoring is especially crucial for youth from disadvantaged backgrounds, providing hope, role models, guidance, and support that formal education often lacks. The Bahujan Scholarss group, started on WhatsApp, aims to connect Bahujan Scholarss from outside India. This rapidly growing group, with 86 members, includes graduate students, faculty, and Scholarss. Its purpose is to foster mentoring, support Bahujan Scholarss, and organize online events.

Vision

>Bahujan Scholarss mentors and empowers disadvantaged youth, inspiring them to become committed professionals and transform their lives.

Mission

To mentor young Scholarss from disadvantaged communities for graduate programs in India and abroad, and to institutionalize mentoring practices in India.

Values

Bahujan Scholarss is committed to the ‘pay back to the society’ philosophy and for intellectual and educational advancement of disadvantaged communities.

Our Objectives

To institutionapze mentoring work and to develop mentoring models.
To develop onpne platforms to offer support, resources, and a space for brainstorming and collaboration.
To organize onpne events to provide academic and professional support to Bahujan Scholarss.
To build allyship, networks, and social capital for Bahujan Scholarss.
To develop a research agenda responsive to the sociopoptical contexts.
To develop technology-based knowledge to assist a range of activities and tasks..

Why Mentoring?

Mentoring is a transformative experience that fosters social networks and positively impacts both mentors and mentees. For mentees, it provides an opportunity to excel in their academic, professional, social, and career pursuits. Mentors, in turn, can develop leadership and social skills, build professional connections, and derive satisfaction from their meaningful contribution to society.

Studies show that young adults with a mentor are:

130% more likely to hold leadership positions.
90% are interested in becoming a mentor.
78% more likely to volunteer regularly. (Source: Mentoring.org)

Young adults facing an opportunity gap who have a mentor are 55% more likely to be enrolled in college than those who did not have a mentor. (Source: The Mentoring Effect, 2014)