"Go as far as you can see; when you get there, you’ll be able to see further."
Introduction
I was never born to blend into the silence of expectation. From the first moment I was told I couldn’t, I decided I must—not just for myself, but for every girl who would come after me.
I’ve stumbled, fallen, been questioned, and dismissed.
But I rose, every single time, not with anger, but with a louder purpose. My mission has never been just about success; it has been about making the path behind me visible, accessible, and real.
Because legacy isn’t about titles—it’s about how many lives you’ve lifted while building your own.
Dr. Tejushwee Prathna Khetha
Phase 1 : T he Roots of Life
“Everything I am today began with my mother. Watching her lead with strength and kindness taught me that real leadership isn’t about power—it’s about showing up for people, even when it’s hard.”
Dr. Tejushwee Prathna Khetha was born and brought up in a small, close-knit village in the northern part of Mauritius. Her early years were marked not by material abundance, but by emotional richness, moral grounding, and an upbringing steeped in public service and resilience. These foundational years in a modest household would go on to shape the woman she would become—an eloquent voice for change, a global peace advocate, and a rising figure in both civic leadership and international dialogue.
Born into a family where the values of social justice, dignity, and service were not merely spoken of but lived daily, Dr. Tejushwee Prathna Khetha was deeply influenced by her mother, Mrs. Madhu. A formidable woman of strength and vision, Mrs. Madhu Khetha carved her place in history by becoming the first female village council president in Northern Mauritius—a feat that shattered gender norms and paved the way for generations of women leaders. She was not only a political pioneer but a dedicated social activist who worked tirelessly to uplift her community. Her presence, her voice, and her leadership were the earliest guiding lights for her daughter.
Dr. Tejushwee Prathna Khetha’s early life was not without hardship. At the age of ten, she experienced a profound personal loss—her father, Mr. Rajesh, passed away. From that point on, her mother became her sole caregiver, raising both Dr. Tejushwee Prathna Khetha and her elder sister with courage and unwavering determination.
The familial unit of three—mother and two daughters—became a bastion of mutual support and encouragement. Her elder sister would later pursue higher studies in Bangalore, India, becoming a forensic scientist, while Tejushwee remained deeply rooted in the life of her village, absorbing the lessons of service, politics, and public life at an extraordinarily young age.
Unlike most children her age, Dr. Tejushwee Prathna Khetha did not spend her childhood solely within the realm of schoolyards and playgrounds. From the age of five, she was already accompanying her mother to village meetings, political discussions, and grassroots social outreach initiatives. These were not mere outings—they were living classrooms. Sitting quietly through community discussions, observing how her mother mediated disputes, listened to grievances, or mobilized local women, young Tejushwee was silently absorbing the art of leadership, the ethics of public responsibility, and the importance of empathy in governance.
Phase 2 : Academic Odyssey
“Education, for me, has never been just about degrees— it’s been about discovering who I am through every challenge, every course, and every moment of doubt. Even when I stumbled, I moved forward with purpose.”
The academic journey of Dr. Tejushwee Prathna Khetha is one marked by ambition, resilience, and an unwavering belief in the power of education as a vehicle for justice and transformation. From the modest beginnings of a village classroom to international legal certifications, hers is a story that reflects the quiet perseverance of a young woman who never stopped striving—despite obstacles, disappointments, or moments of self-doubt.
Dr. Tejushwee Prathna Khetha’s formal education began in 2003 at the Pandit Dowlut Sharma Ayrga Government School, a local village school where she studied from Standard One through Standard Six. These formative years were defined by a blend of rigorous instruction and grassroots simplicity. Despite the basic infrastructure and limited resources, the school nurtured her early intellect and laid the foundation for her enduring academic discipline. She sat for the national primary examination system—a major educational milestone in Mauritius—and her success earned her a place at one of the most prominent secondary institutions in her region.
In 2010, she entered Lady Sushil Ramgoolam State Secondary School, an institution known for its high academic standards and commitment to female empowerment. She pursued her lower secondary studies there and, in 2014, successfully completed her Cambridge International School Certificate (O-Level). Never one to settle for mediocrity, she pushed forward to the higher secondary level at the same institution, earning her Cambridge Higher School Certificate (A-Level) in 2016. These two certifications were not just academic achievements—they were affirmations of her diligence, consistency, and intellectual maturity.
The turning point in her academic life came in 2017 when she was admitted to the prestigious University of Mauritius to pursue a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) with Honours. For Dr. Tejushwee Prathna Khetha, the study of law was not a mere profession-in-the-making; it was a calling. Her passion for justice, instilled since childhood through social work and public discourse, found its formal structure within the legal curriculum. Over the course of three intensive years, she explored jurisprudence, constitutional law, criminal law, and civil procedure with keen insight and academic seriousness. She graduated in 2020 with solid credentials, completing her degree without a single repeat—an achievement she modestly credits to consistent class attendance and focused effort.
With the successful completion of her undergraduate law degree, she transitioned into professional training by enrolling in the Law Practitioners Vocational Course (Attorney Stream) from 2020 to 2022, again at the University of Mauritius. The course, which was designed to last one year, was unexpectedly prolonged due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Amid months of paused instruction, remote learning, and uncertainty, she persisted through one of the most difficult periods in modern education. Unfortunately, the vocational exam proved to be a hurdle. Dr. Tejushwee Prathna Khetha did not pass on her first attempt.
Phase 3 : A Legal Mind in Motion
“I never waited for a title to start leading. Leadership, for me, was always about stepping up—whether it was a village street, a courtroom bench, or a global forum.”
The professional journey of Dr. Tejushwee Prathna Khetha is not merely a progression through titles and roles—it is a living testimony to her steadfast commitment to justice, civic responsibility, and transformative leadership. From the grassroots of her village to national institutions and global networks, each chapter of her career reflects an unwavering devotion to advocacy, law, equity, and youth empowerment.
Her formal entry into the legal sphere came in 2022, when she was appointed as a Service to Mauritius Intern at the Public Bodies Appeal Tribunal. This position, part of a national initiative aimed at engaging talented youth in public sector governance, proved to be more than just a stepping stone. It became a proving ground where Dr. Tejushwee Prathna Khetha honed her analytical and administrative skills while learning to navigate the complex framework of public law. For two years, she worked closely with senior legal professionals and tribunal members, analysing appeals, preparing reports, and interacting with legal documents that directly affected public service personnel. This experience provided her with a strong foundation in administrative law, and a first-hand understanding of how justice and bureaucracy intersect.
In the same year, she undertook a legal internship at Greencourt Chambers, under the mentorship of Mr. Bebakur Rampoortab. It was here that she began to bridge academic legal theory with courtroom practice. She assisted in legal drafting, contributed to case preparations, and engaged in client consultations. These responsibilities, while demanding, allowed her to sharpen her legal acumen and better understand the nuances of courtroom conduct and procedural advocacy. Prior to that, she had also completed a mini-pupillage at Greencourt Chambers in 2019, an experience that had already planted the seeds of practical legal insight and fortified her decision to pursue the bar.
Alongside her legal training, Dr. Tejushwee Prathna Khetha was steadily rising as a voice for civic engagement and youth development. Her election as the Director of Professional Development at the Rotaract Club of Triolet in 2022 was more than a ceremonial title—it marked a strategic role through which she designed skill-building programs, hosted legal awareness campaigns, and created platforms for youth expression. Since joining the Rotary International family in 2021, she has remained an active member of the club, contributing not just her legal expertise, but also her leadership in structuring impactful service projects that address social inequities, health awareness, and peace education.
Her involvement in international civil society networks further expanded the canvas of her influence. Since 2020, she has served as the Country Coordinator for the Global Youth Leaders’ Network, where she facilitated collaborations between Mauritian youth and global changemakers. Her voice resonated across boundaries as she was also appointed as an ambassador for the International Youth Society and a Global Peace Chain ambassador—roles that entrusted her with the responsibility of promoting dialogue, peace-building, and conflict resolution at a time when global societies were navigating post-pandemic fragmentation and unrest.