Needyanand Raya arrived in London from Mauritius in 1999 to pursue his master’s degree, driven by a promise to his father to study “until there are no more exams left to take.”

Over twenty years later, he proudly holds the title of Dr. Raya, having earned a doctorate in social policy at the age of 69 from Middlesex University.

When asked about his achievement, he replied, “Honestly, it’s just a significant accomplishment in my life.”

Now residing in Enfield, Dr. Raya came to the UK as a mature student, having left his native Mauritius, where he felt that opportunities were scarce. “I came from a family that struggled,” he recounted to BBC Radio London’s Eddie Nestor. “My father was a barber and my mother worked as a maid. To help out, I gathered wood from the forest and picked fruit, eventually having to leave school due to financial constraints.”

These challenges instilled in him a strong sense of discipline and a thirst for knowledge. He regarded Britain as “a land of opportunities” and “a place where dreams can become reality.”

After finishing his master’s degree, he was presented with a PhD opportunity at Swansea University. However, he couldn’t pursue it while assisting his wife, Lacksoomi, a schoolteacher, in supporting their family. “I needed to find employment, establish stability; I had many responsibilities. I started as a domestic worker and later transitioned to caregiving.”

Recalling his first day on the job, he said, “I entered the building, and a senior staff member opened the door for me, instructing another to hand me a mop and bucket to begin cleaning from the top floor.” That was the beginning of his journey.

Dr. Raya encountered numerous immigrants whose talents and qualifications were overlooked in low-paying jobs. “There’s someone who was a leading cardiologist in their home country, yet here they are, changing bedpans at night, waiting for the opportunity to enter the UK system,” he observed.

Eventually, Dr. Raya began working in forensic mental health, yet he always aspired to return to academia—something he accomplished once his sons were older. “There comes a moment when you realize you’ve fulfilled your obligations, and you declare, regardless of age, ‘I’m going to pursue what I’ve always desired in life.’ And that’s exactly what I did.”

For his PhD research, Dr. Raya delved into the post-colonial experiences of the Mauritian Creole French-speaking community. Mauritius gained independence from the UK in 1968, having previously been a French colony before the early nineteenth century Napoleonic wars. “Colonization unfolds the same way everywhere, but each region’s experiences are uniquely interesting to me,” he noted.

Dr. Raya is continuing his research, with a particular emphasis on identity and culture. Eleonore Kofman, a professor at Middlesex University who supervised his PhD work, praised his determination to explore an essential topic near to his heart. “I couldn’t be happier about his achievement and that he will be continuing his invaluable research.”

Reflecting on fulfilling his lifelong goal, Dr. Raya expressed that his greatest joy stems from honoring the promise he made long ago. “I stayed true to my word to my dad. Dad, I’ve made you proud,” he concluded.