Privilege, Perception, and Breaking Assumptions, One Earned Step at a Time

Pragya talks about "Privilege, Perception, and Breaking Assumptions, One Earned Step at a Time" Yes, I am a second-generation lawyer. And yes, I am someone’s daughter. That is a fact. It does come with certain privileges—doors open faster, networks build more easily, and I often don’t have to start from ground zero. I acknowledge that completely. But what people often don’t see is what comes with that privilege—the weight of constantly being judged. My achievements are casually dismissed with, “Well, of course, she knows that she’s grown up around it.” But when I fail? That failure is celebrated—“Even with all that support, she couldn’t do this.” First of all, let me make one thing clear—we don’t sit around the dinner table discussing legal codes and courtroom strategies. My parents never raised me with legal books on the dining table. We talk like any other family does. We share stories about our day, we laugh, we listen, and sometimes, sure, something from work slips in if it is particularly interesting. They raised me with character, values, and the importance of earning your place with dignity. It’s true that I may get a seat at the table quicker than others, my last name may have opened a few doors for me. But staying there—that’s on me. It has never been enough to keep them open. What people fail to see is the pressure to prove yourself every single day—not just to the world, but to yourself. The truth is, there’s a different kind of struggle for people like me—the fight to build your own identity in a space where everyone assumes you were handed everything. The quiet frustration of working twice as hard to prove that you’re not just your surname. And still, I carry my last name with pride—not as a shortcut, but as a reminder of the legacy I am determined to earn, not inherit. To rise above the shadow of my surname and build a reputation that is truly my own. And if I’m not capable, not prepared, not resilient—I lose that seat or keep that door open. Nobody’s coming to hold it for me just because of who my father is. Even in the little bit of political opportunities that I initially got, I am as aware of the truth and I never take it for granted. It was easy for me to gain the trust of the leaders and get that opportunity because I am someone's daughter. That is not something I deny, and I don’t shy away from it. And it is equally true that NEVER, I repeat, Never—not once—has my father pulled strings for me. It did come to me and it is undeniably the privilege that I was fortunate enough to get but what made me stay, what made people trust me, support me, and stand with me—that was me. That was my effort, my consistency, my hard work, my honesty, my dedication, my refusal to give up. My father’s name may have opened the door—but what kept me in the room was everything I built with my own hands. There has never been a single moment where my father used his influence to get me into a college, a job, or a position, or a promotion. I have never “used” his name to fast-track anything. In fact, I often hesitate to even mention what he does—not out of shame, but because I don’t want people to see me through that lens, because I want people to see me first before they associate me with him. I want to be seen for who I am, not just whose daughter I am. But here’s something to reflect on: Now that you are the first in your family to enter this field, and you are building something with years of sacrifice and struggle, wouldn’t you want your children to walk that path if they chose to? Wouldn’t you help them, guide them, and offer the support you never had? Wouldn’t you help them navigate the path you once had to clear with your bare hands? Wouldn’t you be proud to see them succeed where you once struggled? So yes, I had a head start. And I will never deny that. But privilege alone doesn’t sustain a career. Having a head start is not the same as having a free ride. Every milestone I’ve reached has been earned. Every challenge I’ve overcome has been mine to fight. My father’s name may have helped me walk in—but it was my work, my character, my failures and learnings, and my persistence that made me stay. It never prepared me for public criticism or the need to prove myself every single day. What has brought me this far is my own grit, knowledge, growth, and resilience. My father’s name may have helped me walk in—but it’s my actions that made me stay. In the Shadow of a Name, I Built My Own Light. And that should never be disregarded. That deserves to be seen. That deserves to be respected. Peace! #worditoutwithpragya