About

I am Kaushal Vidyarthee, DPhil in Social Policy from the University of Oxford. 

As an Inlaks scholar, I came to Oxford in September 2006 and joined Wolfson College. Here, I studied for an MPhil in Development Studies (2006-08) from the Department of International Development. Earlier, I finished Bachelor of Planning (2002-06) from the School of Planning and Architecture (SPA) New Delhi, India. I worked as an urban planner in a planning and architecture  consultancy firm -Design & Development Forum in New Delhi for a short period. Moreover, I was involved with UNDP and European Commission projects in my internships during the undergraduate programme. Currently I am associated with Rajiv Gandhi Mahila Vikas Pariyojana - the poverty reduction and women empowerment initiative of Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust.

Student welfare and leadership activities have been the best way for me to enjoy the university life. At Oxford, I enjoyed my engagement with the Oxford University Student Union (OUSU),  International Students' Campaign, Oxford International Festival, Oxford Indian Society and the U8 Global Student Partnership for Development. I served as the Vice-President (Graduates) -a full time sabbatical officer at OUSU for the year 2008-09 and as the ‘International Students Officer’ –an elected part time executive officer- for the year 2006-07. In my  undergraduate  days, I have  been  associated  with  the National Organisation of Students of Planning (NOSPLAN) for three years (2003-06) at various levels.

Hindi poetry, rendering, photography and cricket are my favourite passions. I also love travelling and exploring new cultures. During summer of 2007, I spent more than two  months in  East Africa doing my fieldwork. I was born in 1985 in a small village in Madhepura District of Bihar, India. I have finished my schooling in Bihar, Jharkhand and Odisha (i.e. at JNV Purnea, JNV Keonjhar and JVM Ranchi). I married Swati Saxena in 2012.