Rising | उड़ान
This is the inspiring story of Purvi (real name Shweta Katti), a young woman who was born and raised in Mumbai’s red-light district and went on to earn a scholarship to study in the United States.
Shweta is the eldest of four sisters. Her mother worked in a factory to support the family, while her stepfather often mistreated her and discriminated against her because of her dark complexion. Growing up in an environment where exploitation, abuse, and the confinement of women were common, Shweta faced enormous challenges from an early age.
Despite these hardships, her determination to pursue education never faded. At the age of nineteen, she achieved what many believed was impossible. The young woman from Mumbai’s largest red-light area, Kamathipura, received admission offers from three American universities for a bachelor’s degree in psychology.
Her achievements earned international recognition when Newsweek listed her among the world’s 25 Women Under 25 to Watch. The list included inspiring young women such as Malala Yousafzai, who overcame adversity to become global symbols of courage and change.
Shweta was accepted by Bard College in New York, which offered her a scholarship worth $30,000. The scholarship covered her annual tuition fees and a significant portion of her accommodation expenses, opening the door to opportunities she had only dreamed about.
Reflecting on her childhood, Shweta recalled the emotional abuse she suffered at home. Her stepfather frequently insulted her because of her skin color and discouraged her ambitions. Yet she refused to let her circumstances define her future.
Through determination, hard work, and a commitment to education, Shweta transformed her life and became an inspiration to countless young people facing adversity.
Here is a video from IndiaTV where the story was reportedly presented with incorrect information. Shweta herself commented on the video and objected to the title used by the channel. We request readers to approach the channel and request a correction or removal of the misleading title: www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsDxSqVPQKY
Online Episode on YouTube:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJcZWuLKjRI
Here is the inside story of the case:
www.crimestories.co.in/2013/07/crime-patrol-daughter-of-mumbai-devdasi.html