Kashmir Lawyer Secures Chevening Scholarship in UK to Pursue Human Rights Law

by Babra Wani

SRINAGAR: 26-year-old Muhammad Daniyal Ubaidullah from Sopore in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir has been awarded the coveted Chevening Scholarship for postgraduate study at the prestigious London School of Economics (LSE). With more than 100,000 applicants vying for the UK government’s flagship scholarship this year, Daniyal’s selection is a celebration in itself.

Speaking to Kashmir Life over the phone, Daniyal shared his journey, one that began in the alleys of Baramulla and is now headed back to London, where he has previously spent over six years studying and working.

“I completed my early schooling in Kashmir until Class 10, after which I moved to Delhi for my higher secondary education. I then pursued a BA (Hons) in Sociology from Hindu College, University of Delhi, followed by a law degree from King’s College London,” he said.

After graduating in 2021, Daniyal worked in the UK’s higher education sector and later as a Data Consultant at Kubrick Group, one of the world’s most selective data consultancies. Upon graduating from King’s College London, he was also elected Vice President of the King’s College London Students’ Union, where he represented around 50,000 students at the university and national level.

“For the past year and a half, I have been engaged in litigation practice here in Kashmir, working closely with senior advocates in the lower courts of Baramulla as well as the High Court,” he said.

“Now, with the Chevening Scholarship, I am preparing to pursue an LLM in Human Rights Law at LSE this September.”

Contrary to common perception, Daniyal clarified that Chevening is a fully funded scholarship program that covers tuition fees, living expenses, and travel costs to and from the UK. Its primary focus is to cultivate a network of academically and professionally capable leaders across the world.

“It is not solely about academic performance. Chevening looks for leadership potential, how you have led, how you intend to lead, and the kind of impact you hope to make in your community,” he explained.

The application process, he said, is entirely online and includes submitting four essays and academic credentials. If shortlisted, candidates are then invited to an interview, which determines the final selection.

“It is a numbers game, and the odds are not in your favour. But the same is true for civil services or any competitive process here. If we’re willing to compete in those, why not aim globally too?” Daniyal said.

Daniyal’s journey has not been without challenges. Coming from a traditionally conservative background where medicine and engineering are often seen as the only viable career paths, he opted for the humanities, with the support of his family.

“My father is an engineer, my brother is studying medicine, and my sisters are in clinical fields. Even so, I was encouraged to pursue my interests in law and the social sciences,” he said. “Having that freedom made a world of difference.”

Daniyal has always been very steadfast in leadership roles. During his time at Hindu College, University of Delhi, he was elected a Minister in the Student Parliament. At King’s College London, he served as President of the Human Rights Project and later as Vice President of the King’s College London Students’ Union, representing nearly 50,000 students. He led campaigns around mental health, student wellbeing, and equality.

For Daniyal, the Chevening Scholarship is more than a personal milestone, it is a long-term commitment to give back.

“Chevening requires scholars to return to their home country for at least two years after finishing the program. For me, that aligns with my own goals. I plan to focus on human rights and legislative reform in Kashmir,” he said. “The crisis here isn’t just about poor implementation, we also need to question and reform the laws themselves.” Daniyal strongly believes that Kashmiri youth must adopt a global outlook.

“Opportunities are shrinking here, and it is vital that young people begin to look outward. Most countries have national scholarship programs, Fulbright in the US, Commonwealth and Chevening in the UK, Stipendium Hungaricum in Hungary. These can be transformative routes for our youth,” he said.

Asked about Kashmir’s education system, Daniyal did not hold back. “Our system still rewards rote memorisation. Even our most prestigious exams assess outdated skills that have little relevance today. We are in the age of AI, we should be training students in creativity, critical thinking, coding, and tech literacy. Our education system needs a serious upgrade,” he stressed.

“Those of us who receive international scholarships carry a moral obligation to act as ambassadors, not just for these programs, but for our communities. We must return, raise awareness, and help others follow the same path. Empowerment starts with access to information,” he said.

Daniyal has received offers from multiple world-class universities including University College London and the University of Edinburgh. But it is LSE’s globally renowned Human Rights Law program that he has chosen.

“LSE’s program offers the kind of rigorous academic training and global perspective I need to effectively contribute to legal reform. It is the best fit for the work I want to do,” he said.