Nisarga: An Aspiring Professor with an Unbreakable Dream — Annapoorna Trust Beneficiary
Nestled in a small village in Karnataka, a government school stands quietly as a place of opportunity for children from some of the most humble families in the region. It is here that Nisarga — a bright-eyed, determined young girl — first found her reason to learn. Raised in a family burdened with debt and daily hardship, Nisarga’s early childhood was shaped by hunger, uncertainty, and a deep longing for something more. Today, she is pursuing her final semester of MSc in Mathematics, with her sights firmly set on becoming a Professor.
Nisarga’s family carried the weight of heavy debt, and life at home was filled with difficulties. Her parents, who believed deeply in the value of education, enrolled her and her brother in the local government school. But attending school was never easy. Her parents left home early each morning to work, leaving the two children to fend for themselves. Some days they would find something to eat; many days, they would simply wait for the school’s midday meal to fill their stomachs.
“I had no interest or desire in going to school. Because there was no good food to eat at home, I did not understand then that the reason for my disinterest was hunger and poor nutrition,” Nisarga recalls.
It was in 2016, when Nisarga was in Grade 5, that the Sri Sathya Sai Annapoorna Trust arrived in Vinayakanagar and began providing morning nutrition to children before school. Like rain that brings life to parched earth, the Trust’s arrival marked a turning point — bringing with it hope, nourishment, and the promise of change.
“They came as a light into my life, which was in darkness. The good meal that was provided attracted me — that became my first reason for wanting to go to school. For this reason, I used to wake up early, take a bath, put on my school uniform, get ready, and go to receive the morning nutrition,” she says with a warm smile.
What began as a simple incentive to attend school gradually became the foundation of a remarkable transformation. Nourished by consistent morning meals and encouraged by the care and support of Annapoorna Trust’s volunteers, Nisarga evolved from a weak and disinterested student into one of the brightest in her school. Her love for learning grew, and with it, her dedication to her studies deepened.
With relentless hard work and a growing passion for academics, Nisarga went on to stand first in her entire school in Grade 10 — and secured a district rank. It was no small feat for a girl who had grown up without consistent parental support at home. Yet through it all, the Annapoorna Trust stood beside her like family, celebrating her success with the same pride her own parents would have felt.
“After a few years, I felt the Trust was doing so much for us — there for us every day without fail. I could not buy them any gifts. The only thing I could do was study well. When I got my rank, they gave me a calculator and some books. The moment I received the calculator, a thought struck me: I want to pursue something in mathematics. That was the day I set my goal — to become a Mathematics Professor,” she reflects, her eyes lighting up.
Today, Nisarga is in the final semester of her MSc in Mathematics — a journey that began with a single nutritious meal each morning. She credits the Annapoorna Trust not only for the food they provided, but for the inspiration, courage, and sense of belonging they offered throughout her formative years.
“If I had to name the reason my life has turned out so beautifully, I would definitely say it is the Annapoorna Trust Morning Meal and them being there for us. It is not just for me — for many children, it stands as a guiding light. I will surely strive to be an example for others and offer my love and encouragement to children, just as they have stood for me,” she says with quiet conviction.
The Annapoorna Trust’s morning meal programme does more than nourish the bodies of children — it fuels their minds, restores their focus, and reignites their will to dream. For Nisarga, it was the catalyst that turned hunger into hope, and hope into achievement. As she prepares to step into the world as an MSc graduate, she carries with her a heartfelt plea: that the programme must never stop, and that its reach must only grow — because for every child it touches, it plants the seed of a future that might otherwise never have been possible.
“The Annapoorna programme should never come to a full stop — only commas, as the number of children it serves continues to grow. It should remain a guiding light for all children from underserved communities across the world.”
— Nisarga, MSc Mathematics Student
