Inspiring graduate was first in her family to go to school after fleeing Taliban
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A woman whose family fled the Taliban and who became the first person in her family to go to school has graduated with a master’s degree in human rights law. Gurvin Chopra, whose parents fled religious persecution in Afghanistan, made a speech to a crowd of around 1,000 graduating students and their loved ones in Bristol, in which she spoke about what a “privilege it is to pursue an education”.
Her parents – Jaspal and Waryam Chopra – were forced by the Taliban to leave their home country in 2000 because of their Sikh religion. Although neither received any education, and cannot read or write, they encouraged Miss Chopra and her two younger siblings to work hard at school.
Growing up in west London, she would read the family’s post, fill out their forms and read books to her brother and sister. These early experiences propelled her towards a career in law. “In their youth my parents weren’t really allowed to participate in education,” she said.
“My grandfather died young and my dad had to work, and there was a cultural element of what a woman’s place was. Despite that, they’ve always seen the value in education. “I always saw education as a way out and a way of making myself different from the women I saw growing up, who often didn’t work.
“I’ve found education really empowering in breaking away from that, developing a voice and helping the people around me.”. After finishing her undergraduate law degree in 2023 at the University of Bristol, for which she received a bursary, Miss Chopra went on to study for a master’s degree in human rights law at the university.
