R.M.V. Raman Scholarship: Helping IIT Students Rise Above Financial Hardship

Getting into an IIT is a dream for lakhs of students in India. For a few, the hardest part begins after the admission letter arrives – when the family realises it cannot pay the fees, hostel charges and living costs for four years. The R.M.V. Raman Scholarship Kind Circle was created for exactly these students: bright, hard-working, and held back only by money.

A life built on learning

Mr. R. Muthuvenkataraman, known to all as R.M.V. Raman, was born in 1946 in Batlagundu, a small town in Tamil Nadu. He earned three Master's degrees and joined the Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) in 1982, rising to become its Executive Director in 2001. He served the bank until 2009 and was widely loved in his community.

After he passed away in 2021, his family – his wife Vijayalakshmi Muthuvenkataraman, his daughter Ramya Venkataraman and his son M.V. Niranjan, among others – set up a scholarship in his name on Kind Circle, honouring his lifelong belief in education.

What the scholarship does

The R.M.V. Raman Scholarship Kind Circle supports high-potential students from low-income families who are pursuing undergraduate engineering, with a preference for the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).

• Who: Indian students pursuing an undergraduate engineering degree at an IIT, with strong academic merit and a low-income background
• Support: up to ₹70,000 per scholar, given as a one-time grant or every year
• Cycle: recurring, with a new set of students supported each year

Meet two of the scholars

Gokulan M – from Chennai to IIT Varanasi

Gokulan is a first-generation learner from Chennai, now in his second year of Mining Engineering at IIT (BHU) Varanasi. Getting there took years of determination – and staying there would have been a struggle without help. The R.M.V. Raman Scholarship eased the financial pressure on his family, so he could focus on his studies and on his dream of lifting his family up.

Deepak G – cleared for takeoff

Deepak is a third-year Aerospace Engineering student at IIT Kharagpur. Financial worries had followed him into college. With the support of the R.M.V. Raman Scholarship, that stress lifted. Today he is pursuing his dreams with gratitude – and with a resolve to give back one day.

Read more journeys like these in our success stories on the Kind Circle homepage.

Why a family scholarship works so well

The R.M.V. Raman Scholarship shows what a family can achieve when it comes together around a shared value:

• A clear focus – by supporting IIT engineering students, the family knows exactly what kind of change it is creating.
• Deep, personal impact – a small number of scholars receive meaningful support, and the family follows each of their journeys.
• Many hands – family members and friends contribute to the same circle, keeping the memory alive together.
• Nothing to manage on the ground – the Kind Circle team handles student identification, verification, disbursal and updates, while the family approves the final scholars.

The ripple effect

An IIT degree can change not just one life but an entire family's future. With a good career, scholars like Gokulan and Deepak can support siblings, parents and, in time, the next generation of students. That is the ripple effect Kind Circle is built on – every student supported is encouraged to pledge to support at least one student once they start earning.

Frequently asked questions

Can students from engineering colleges other than IITs apply?
The scholarship is focused on undergraduate engineering students at the IITs, in line with the family's wish to support high-potential students at India's leading engineering institutions.

How are scholars selected?
Applicants are identified through Buddy4Study's network and go through a multi-layered verification process covering academic record and financial need. The family reviews the verified profiles and approves the final scholars.

How is the money paid?
Scholarships are paid directly to the student or the institution, and every disbursal is recorded on the circle page.

Can I contribute even if I am not part of the family?
Yes. Friends, colleagues, IIT alumni and anyone who shares the belief that money should not stand in the way of talent are welcome to contribute.

How you can help

• Contribute to the R.M.V. Raman Scholarship Kind Circle and help more IIT students complete their degrees.
• Share the circle with friends, colleagues and IIT alumni who care about access to higher education.
• Nominate a deserving student who needs support.

Every contribution receives an official receipt from Buddy4Study India Foundation, registered under Sections 12A and 80G of the Income Tax Act.

Start a scholarship in your family's name

If the R.M.V. Raman story moves you, you can create something similar for someone you love. On Kind Circle, you can start a family or memorial scholarship without registering a trust or NGO – you decide who to support, and we take care of the rest. Read our guide on how to start a memorial scholarship on Kind Circle, or share your interest here.