21-year-old Arani S. Hazarika from Bamunimaidam, Guwahati, Assam, has made history as the first Assamese to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Sanskrit and Classical Hindi from the prestigious University of Oxford. Her degree was awarded during a ceremony held at the historic Sheldonian Theatre on Saturday, August 9 (UK time), attended by the Vice-Chancellor of Oxford and esteemed scholars from around the world.
Arani, a former student of Holy Child Higher Secondary School in Chandmari, excelled in her CBSE Class 10 and 12 board exams, gaining admission to Oxford at the young age of 18. She pursued her studies at Balliol College, one of the university’s oldest colleges, established in 1263, under the Department of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, where she focused on the unique combination of Sanskrit and Classical Hindi.
Her academic achievements were further highlighted by the receipt of the Simon and June Li Undergraduate Scholarship, an accolade for outstanding international students. Starting her studies in October 2022, Arani successfully completed the rigorous program on time.
In her undergraduate work, she authored a significant research paper on the standardization and authentication of 15th-century palm-leaf manuscripts from Dakhinpat Satra in Majuli, Assam. This satra, founded by the Vaishnavite saint Srimanta Sankardeva, is of immense historical and cultural importance, and her research represents a crucial contribution to preserving Assamese heritage.
Arani is the daughter of Partha Pratim Hazarika, a senior journalist and Assistant Editor of The Assam Tribune, and Sudakshina Bhuyan, a well-known Feng Shui and Vaastu consultant. Her remarkable achievement is celebrated as a proud moment for Assam, reflecting the state’s increasing representation in global academia.
Original Source: https://www.indiatodayne.in/assam/story/assams-arani-s-hazarika-becomes-first-from-state-to-graduate-in-sanskrit-from-oxford-university-1259104-2025-08-10?utm_source=rssfeed
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Publish Date: 2025-08-10 23:21:00
