Kashmiri advocate Daniyal Ubaidullah secures prestigious Chevening scholarship

July 12, 2025 by News Desk

Muhammad Daniyal Ubaidullah, 26, from Sopore in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, has been awarded the UK government’s highly competitive Chevening Scholarship to pursue a postgraduate degree in Human Rights Law at the London School of Economics (LSE). Selected from over 100,000 applicants worldwide, his achievement marks a significant milestone for Kashmir’s academic and legal circles.

Having spent over six years studying and working in London, Daniyal is no stranger to the UK. After completing his schooling in Kashmir and higher secondary studies in Delhi, he earned a BA (Hons) in Sociology from Hindu College, University of Delhi, and later a law degree from King’s College London. He was also elected Vice President of the King’s College London Students’ Union, representing nearly 50,000 students.

Post-graduation, Daniyal worked in the UK’s higher education sector and later joined the Kubrick Group, a leading data consultancy. He returned to Kashmir and spent over a year in litigation, working alongside senior advocates in Baramulla and at the High Court.

Now set to begin his LLM at LSE this September, Daniyal views the Chevening Scholarship as both a personal and political commitment. Chevening, a fully funded program covering tuition, travel, and living expenses, is awarded to individuals demonstrating leadership potential and a vision for change in their home countries.

For Daniyal, that vision includes human rights advocacy and legislative reform in Kashmir. Coming from a family rooted in science and medicine—his father an engineer, siblings in medical fields—he chose to pursue law and the social sciences with his family’s support.

He has held multiple leadership roles, from being elected to the Student Parliament at Hindu College to leading the Human Rights Project at King’s College London. His focus has consistently been on mental health, equality, and student wellbeing.

In addition to LSE, he received offers from University College London and the University of Edinburgh. But LSE’s globally recognized Human Rights Law program aligned most closely with his goals.

Daniyal is also critical of Kashmir’s education system, calling for a shift from rote learning to critical thinking, tech literacy, and creativity. He believes international scholarships like Chevening are transformative opportunities for young Kashmiris and urges the youth to think globally as opportunities within the region continue to shrink.

For him, securing Chevening is not just a win—it’s a responsibility to return, raise awareness, and help others chart similar paths.