When Needyanand Raya left Mauritius for the UK in 1999, he carried more than a suitcase he carried a promise to his father: to study “until there will be no examination beyond that to take.” Two decades later, at the age of 69, Raya fulfilled that vow by earning a PhD in social policy from Middlesex University.
“Dad, I made you feel proud,” he said simply. “It’s just an achievement of a lifetime.”
Born into a humble family in Mauritius his father a barber and his mother a maid Raya’s early years were marked by hardship. He collected wood and picked fruit to help his family, eventually dropping out of school because they couldn’t afford the fees. Yet, these struggles ignited his lifelong “quest for knowledge and learning.”
Arriving in London as a mature student, Raya completed his master’s degree but postponed his PhD dream to support his family. “I started as a domestic, working as a carer,” he recalled. “Someone handed me a mop and a bucket on my first day that’s where I started.”
Despite facing underemployment like many skilled immigrants, Raya persevered. He later worked in forensic mental health before returning to academia when his children were grown. His doctoral research explored the post-colonial identity of the Mauritian Creole French-speaking community a reflection of his own cultural journey.
Now a resident of Enfield, Dr Raya continues his research into identity and culture. His story stands as a testament to resilience, lifelong learning, and the unbreakable power of a promise made to a father.
