“My parents don’t know where Harvard is”: Seema Kumari’s inspiring journey from Jharkhand village to Harvard

Seema Kumar’s Inspiring Jharkhand-to-Harvard Story

In a world where opportunities rarely reach the margins, Seema Kumari, now a proud Harvard University Class of 2025 graduate, stands as the kind of story India wants to read, and remember.

Born in Dahu village in Jharkhand’s Ormanjhi block, Seema grew up in a community where child marriage was not an exception but an expectation, where girls dropped out of school early, and where parents measured dreams by affordability, not ambition. For years, Seema walked barefoot to a government school, often skipping classes to help her family with daily chores.

Yet, destiny had different plans — and so did she.

Seema’s parents, who had never stepped outside their village, did not even know what Harvard meant when she first mentioned it.

In her own words, “My parents don’t know where Harvard is, but they know I studied hard.”

For a girl who grew up without electricity for most of her childhood, the idea of getting into one of the world’s most prestigious universities almost sounded like fiction. But Seema turned it into fact.

Supported by the Yuwa India NGO, which works with at-risk girls through education and football, Seema discovered books, confidence, and the courage to dream big. She balanced football practice with studies, and her determination soon caught the attention of mentors, volunteers, and international educators.

Her application to Harvard was more than just an essay, it was a life story of grit.

Against all odds, she received her acceptance letter and secured full financial aid. Suddenly, the girl who grew up fighting societal expectations found herself walking across the Harvard Yard, surrounded by students from over 100 countries.

Today, Seema Kumari is celebrated not just for her achievement but for what it represents: the power of education to cut through centuries of inequality.

Despite her new global exposure, Seema has not forgotten home. She continues to work with Yuwa, raising awareness against child marriage, promoting girls’ education, and helping young students chase their own impossible dreams. Her hope? “To make sure other girls in my village don’t stop dreaming.”

Seema’s journey is a blueprint for what rural India’s girls can achieve when someone hands them a book instead of a limitation.