We are thrilled to share some extraordinary news with our Asha family!
Dr. Kiran, the driving force behind Asha’s mission of empowering slum communities in New Delhi, has been awarded the Doctor of Laws Honoris Causa by the prestigious University of Melbourne, Australia’s top university.
This is the highest honor the University can bestow, and it recognizes Dr. Kiran’s decades-long commitment to transforming lives through healthcare, education, and social justice. She is now part of an illustrious group of changemakers, becoming the first Indian in 14 years and the only Indian woman to receive this honor from the University of Melbourne.
Even more impressively, Dr. Kiran is the only Indian to have been awarded honorary doctorates from multiple Australian universities in a single year. The last Indian to receive such a degree from the University of Melbourne was none other than Pandit Ravi Shankar in 2010!
In her heartfelt acceptance speech, Dr. Kiran dedicated this award to the slum residents who inspire her every day:
"They are the true heroes of this story. Their courage has changed me, and their dreams will continue to change the world."
Watch Dr. Kiran’s inspiring acceptance speech here:
