Evangeline a Kani Tribal girl, who is the first law graduate from Kanyakumari district
Kanyakumari: A 10-km journey from a remote tribal hamlet to school in Kanyakumari district was among the first steps that eventually took S Evangelin Nishma to the corridors of Madras high court . When the 28-year-old from Koovaikadu received the degree from law minister Nirmal Kumar at a function in Madurai Law College on Sept 26, she became the first from the kaani tribal community to graduate in law. Because they are reluctant to leave their hamlets, some discontinue their studies after school.
“Usually, my father would drop me off at school,” she said, recalling the 10km journey from her hamlet. Nishma says higher education is yet to become the natural next step for every child in kaani settlements. “When someone from the same community speaks up for tribal people and their rights, it can be more effective than outsiders speaking on their behalf,” she said. We pursued our studies and progressed through our own determination,” Suresh said.
In fact, educational achievements run in the family. Her father was the first PhD holder from the community, who studied their indigenous medicine and medical practices, while her elder sister, S Evangelin Reshma, became a dentist. Nishima who is married and has a four-month-old daughter lives in Chennai. “They ensured that their children received education, and my parents, in turn, provided us with a proper education. She and her father have been encouraging such students to pursue higher education and helping them wherever possible. For Nishma, becoming a lawyer is also about who gets to articulate the problems faced by tribal communities. Her father hopes the qualification will eventually serve a purpose beyond the family’s own academic milestones. “Education has long remained out of reach for many in our community.
Nishma said the foundation was laid by her grandparents, who saw education as a means to improving the family’s circumstances.