Kerala School Dropout Who Rolled Beedis Is Now A US Judge
NDTV
Born and raised in Kerala'sKasaragod, Surendran dropped out of school and took updaily wage jobs to earn a living.
51-year-old Surendran K Pattel who was recently sworn in as a district judge in Texas says his days rolling beedis and working as a housekeeper helped him achieve success in the United States. Born and raised in Kerala's Kasaragod, Surendran dropped out of school and took up daily wage jobs to earn a living.
"I dropped out of school after Class 10 because my family had no financial means to continue. I rolled beedis for a year as a daily wager and that changed my perspective on life," Mr Pattel told NDTV.
Determined to turn his life around, Surendran sought financial help from his friends in his village to complete his education, including his law degree. He also worked a housekeeping job in a local hotel while he studied to sustain himself.
"Once I finished my LLB, the practice I got there helped me survive in the United States," Mr Pattel said, adding that his journey in the US was also not without its hurdles.
