Chandigarh: Poonam Dhull, the daughter of a driver working for the government of Haryana, has done her family and state proud by bagging a scholarship to pursue a doctorate in the United States.
Poonam, 24, was awarded the $50,000 (over Rs3m) scholarship for pursuing a PhD in chemistry from the University of South Carolina.
Her father, Suresh Pal, works as a driver with the public relations department of the Haryana government.
Poonam is a research student in the Department of Chemistry in Panjab University here.
Hailing from Bhana village in Haryana’s Kaithal district, 130km from here, Poonam studied in the DAV Senior Secondary School in Kaithal before coming to Chandigarh to complete her graduation in chemistry.
“My family supported me in achieving this. They encouraged me to study further and never let any financial difficulties bother me,” Poonam, who has two younger siblings, a brother and sister, said.
Suresh Pal said he was proud of his daughter’s achievement. He said his wife, Sheela Devi, who is semi-literate, encouraged their daughter to study.
Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has congratulated her.
IANS
