Mukesh Tomar hails from Kekadiya, a small village in Madhya Pradesh. He belonged to a below poverty line family with an annual income that was less than INR 30,000. His father is a daily wage labourer who earned a meagre wage of INR 100-200 per day and his mother is a homemaker. He has two younger siblings who were studying in school and one elder sister who was married at a very early age.
Despite his adverse financial situation at home, Mukesh has always been a bright student and secured 9.4 C.G.P.A in his 10th standard C.B.S.E. board examinations and 87% in his 12th standard C.B.S.E. board examinations.
Mukesh’s excellent track record caught the attention of an NGO (Abhadya Education and Welfare Society) which helped him pursue his higher studies. Mukesh also secured a scholarship from the Madhya Pradesh Government for having performed well in his board examinations.
It was with the help of Abhadya Education and Welfare Society and a colleague’s reference that IDIA Madhya Pradesh Chapter came in contact with Mukesh. Mukesh was determined to pursue law as he saw some lawyers in Abhadya Education and Welfare Society use the tool of law for empowerment.
Mukesh will be the first person in his family to pursue higher education. An extremely hardworking student, Mukesh secured a seat at National Law Institute University, Bhopal.
Mukesh is interested in social work and engages himself in numerous legal aid and related activities on campus. For instance, he has been a part of the IDIA Madhya Pradesh Chapter as well as the Legal Aid Clinic of his university. He was also engaged with NLIU’s student run cell called People’s Union for Legal Rights (PULER) which helps government schools with teaching children. His internships include those with the Additional Solicitor-General of India, Mr. Vikramjit Banerjee; Magna Peritus, Bhopal; Advocate Manoj Sharma, Madhya Pradesh High Court and the Centre for Social Justice, Ahmedabad. He has also started teaching kids in his village.
In his free time, Mukesh loves to play Kho Kho and badminton. He has also run in marathons. After graduation, Mukesh wishes to pursue a career in the judicial services or litigation so that he can support his family and siblings.
