Zaad Mahmood

Felix Scholarship

Prior to starting my doctoral programme, I worked as a lecturer, and it was my duty to provide students with a well-rounded education that made them aware of the world not only in theory but also with a sense of global understanding. However in order for me to do so I needed to venture out of India and experience the world for myself. The Felix scholarship, recommended by a friend, enabled me to study at one of the world's premier institutions, the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) at the University of London. What has made this experience all the more enjoyable was that thanks to the scholarship's support, I was uninhibited from the usual financial burdens that tend to limit one's university experience.

I had arrived in London from India, confident in my academic work and knowledge; but, since those first days of encountering new sights, people, and ideas, SOAS has opened my eyes to a world about which I had so much more to learn. I found myself engaging with a myriad of people from all walks of life, each with a unique story, all on the same quest as me - to learn, to explore and to question. I learned more about people and their differing cultures as well as their unique perspectives in the most exciting, adventurous manner possible.

I found myself working in a dynamic environment that encouraged me to adopt a more global view which increased my own sensitivity and enabled me to appreciate different schools of thought and mindsets; I made friendships with students that went beyond cultural boundaries and shared experiences that caused me to reorient my position and opinions. My mentors, all leading academics of the world, encouraged intellectual growth and inspired in me a keen interest in academic topics that I once would not have considered at all. All this challenged my own thoughts and views which in turn broadened my own theoretical foundations.

In short, I am now a changed person. My thought process has widened, and I have a deep reservoir of memories that remind me time and time again that it is indispensible to expand one's horizons, especially given that we now live in a globalised world wherein there is no excuse for a lack of awareness. I owe what I am today to the Felix scholarship, for without it, none of the above would have been possible.

Zaad Mahmood