Anuj is a third-year IDIA Scholar at Dr Ram Manohar Lohia National Law University, Lucknow. He grew up in a small village in Etawah, Uttar Pradesh, in a family of five children, with his father serving as head constable and his mother managing the home. In these circumstances, continuing his education depended on doing well at every stage, and Anuj consistently rose to that expectation. He completed his schooling in Mathura on scholarship and secured a 90 percent score, reinforcing both his commitment and potential.
From an early age, growing up close to the functioning of the police force made him attentive to the systems that shaped daily life, and naturally drawing him toward the Constitution as the framework that defines those powers. His interest deepened through reading, especially The Courtroom Genius, which introduced him to Nani Palkhivala’s arguments on fundamental rights and the basic structure doctrine. Over time, the Constitution became for Anuj both an intellectual interest and a lens through which he understood public life.
Anuj first learned about IDIA through the UP-Chapter team, who reached out while he was exploring options to continue his preparation. For him, this came at a moment when managing studies alongside financial uncertainty was becoming increasingly difficult. He often says that what IDIA offered him, more than anything else, was a sense of direction. As a first-generation learner from a rural, Hindi-medium background, English remained his biggest challenge, but steady practice, mock test analysis, and regular guidance helped him improve significantly. He eventually cleared CLAT 2023 and secured admission to RMLNLU, entering law school with far greater confidence in both his communication and academic abilities.
After joining RMLNLU, Anuj continued to push himself beyond the limitations he once associated with language. He began participating in negotiation and mediation competitions, and occasionally in debates, using these platforms to strengthen both his clarity of expression and his confidence. As he progressed through law school, his early fascination with the Constitution grew further through classroom discussions, case readings, and sustained academic engagement.
This interest found a concrete direction during his judicial internship with Justice Subhash Vidyarthi at the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court. Watching constitutional questions being argued in court and observing how principles he had studied were applied in real matters, reaffirmed the curiosity that first drew him to the law, also helping him recognize the kind of work he wanted to contribute to in the future. Over time, this clarity shaped his aspiration to join the civil services, where he hopes to work closely with public institutions and contribute to better governance.
Amidst academics, preparation, and internships, Anuj has also built a life beyond the classroom. He loves playing basketball, a routine that keeps him energized and gives him the space to unwind.
