Revathi Nayaka — A success that can transform many lives

In 2021, in the middle of the COVID Revathi Nayaka was in the news. For cracking the National Law Exams. Against all odds.

Today she is a student at The Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Patiala. But what were those odds people spoke about?

Revathi Nayaka the daughter of a farmer at Hucchhavvanahalli in Davanagere taluk, Karnataka dreamed of being in Judicial Services. But in 2021 April she was infected with COVID and admitted to the district hospital. She also discovered that it was time to file the CLAT application, but there was no money.

Luckily, the ward also had Jeevanmurthy, chairman of the dry land development board admitted. He came to know about Revathi and paid off the fees of INR 3,500.

Revathi took the test on 23rd July and achieved a rank of 176 among the SC students. She joined the five-year integrated course at the Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Patiala.

Davanagere is a draught-prone area, and the family of Revathi always struggled for money. But she kept alive her dream of becoming a Judicial Officer and serving and worked hard all through her PU with PCMB days at Sri Siddaganga PU College.

And another person breaks the barrier today — with hard work, passion, and a little bit of luck.

Probably it will be appropriate here to again revisit the revisit the reservation policy, which is unique in India because it is enshrined in our constitution. That creates lots of dissonance, about the “meritocracy” being affected, and deserving candidates losing out.

Why we may all debate the relevance of that opposition (especially given where we are after 75 years of independence), the success of Revathy is surely a step up for affirmative intervention.

With full credit to her efforts and the support of her family, it was still near impossible for her to get into an institute of this repute by sheer open competition, which may have equality but surely misses equity.

Think of the impact she will not bring. Not just catapulting her entire family out of the cycle of poverty, it will give hope to so many people. And if she continues to wear her caste identity with pride (as so many increasingly from the backward castes are doing, to good effect), the ripple effect can touch so many others over a lifetime.