Stories of heroism are often told about winning against all odds, but stories of altruism are equally heroic as well. We tell the story of Sudeekshna and her stalwart sister, Smruthi, who gave up her dream in the hopes of fulfilling her sister’s dream of becoming an extraordinary transport planner.
Born in one of the most industrialised cities in Tamil Nadu, Coimbatore, Sudeekshna Vijayaraghavan was raised in a typical family of two children, yet it was anything but common. Sudeekshna’s calm and mature disposition bears the distinction of someone who has gone through a lot in a very short time. Behind her calm and quiet demeanour dwells a kind of determination to excel.
“We grew up hearing my grandfather recounting his experiences working at the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board, where he spent his lifetime surveying and constructing dams. He would share his latest work experiences and explain to us how things work. For us, it was always interesting to hear his stories. For Sudeekshna, it strikes differently,” recounted Smruthi.
Finding the calling in engineering
These stories became her calling. Seeing how these engineering anecdotes sparked a massive interest in the young Sudeekshna, her grandfather would often bring her around India and show her the latest developments in rail and transportation technologies. These trips naturally grew her passion for transportation engineering. Her intense curiosity about the principles behind transportation planning spurred her to work ceaselessly towards deepening her knowledge in this field. After graduating high school, she pursued a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering at the Kumaraguru College of Technology as her first step into the world of transportation.
It all seemed smooth sailing for the Vijayaraghavan family until life dealt a bad hand.
Finding strength from grief
“I had always wanted to study overseas. That has been my dream for as long as I can remember. We lost our father when I was 16 years old. It was also during the same time I graduated high school. My mother became the sole breadwinner of the family. It was hard for me to pursue that dream when our financial situation was not ideal,” Smruthi shared.
Their father’s passing not only left the children a void that was impossible to fill, it also came to redefine all their lives. For Sudeekshna’s mother, Sita, under the weight of fending for the family financially with two children in tow, she had to step up not only to play the mother’s role but the father’s role as well. Turning her grief to strength, Sita toiled tirelessly to raise her children, sticking to her core principle: that she would do anything for her children.
Perhaps the only certainty amid the uncertainties at that time was how determined Sudeekshna was in fulfilling her dream. Despite the financial situation they were mired in, Sita understands how important it is to ensure both children attain the necessary education. And if there was only one who could study overseas, both Smruthi and Sita felt it should be Sudeekshna.
“Sudeekshna has always been certain of what she wants, and she would pursue to the ends of the earth to achieve her goals. We have seen enough proof to believe in her and her decisions. So, my mother and I decided to push her to study overseas. Look at the world outside. See what it has to offer you,” shared Smruthi.
Sudeekshna came across TUM Asia and was instantly captivated by the quality of education at the Technical University of Munich, Germany, and was especially drawn to the programme and modules in the Master of Science in Rail, Transport and Logistics programme.
Life – we win some, we lose some
For Smruthi, even as life has dealt a bad hand, she managed to win with the cards she was handed.
After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in engineering and information technology, Smruthi moved on to pursue a master’s degree in business administration. She is currently working as a business analyst at Renault, where she gets to travel overseas often for work-related matters.
Often, the one who receives the act of selflessness bears a moral burden that few would understand. Her sister’s sacrifice seared deeply into Sudeekshna. Knowing that her sister gave up her dreams for hers, Sudeekshna carries the aspirations of not just her own but her sister’s as well. Her determination to make an impact in the transportation industry would see her well on her way to realising her dream and even her sister’s.