Westminster alumna selected as a global finalist for the British Council’s Study UK Alumni Awards 2023

Study UK is a global campaign that promotes the UK as the first-choice study destination to international students and their influencers. Their prestigious international Alumni Awards were launched in September 2014 and were developed by the British Council and UK universities.

The Culture and Creativity Award recognises alumni who have carved a career for themselves in the arts and culture sectors. Award winners and finalists are leaders in their fields who have used their experience of studying at a UK university to make a positive contribution to their communities, professions, and countries.

Talking about her selection as a global finalist, Puja said: "At a time when press freedoms stand threatened globally, when working as a journalist becomes increasingly harder every day, this recognition has been heartening. It is a delightful validation of my work, one that only motivates me to work harder."

Puja is the author of three highly-acclaimed books, including Homebound, Gangster on the Run, and The Front Page Murders. As a journalist, she writes about the intersections of gender, crime, social justice, human rights, science and technology in India. Her journalistic works have been published across prestigious publications, including the BBC, CNN, The Guardian, National Geographic, and Al Jazeera, just to name a few. Puja was a Fellow of the Global Investigative Journalism Network, is a recipient of the International Centre for Journalists' Coronavirus Reporting Award, and the Laadli Media Award for Gender Sensitivity, among many others. She was also the recipient of the Study UK Alumni Awards 2022 in India in the Culture and Creativity Award category.

Reflecting on her years at Westminster, Puja said: “As a 21-year-old, when I first arrived in the UK, I was the first in my family to study a post-graduate course, and the first girl child ever to aspire to a professional career. I landed in London covered in doubt and apprehension, but when I left, I was a confident young woman, ready to face the world as a journalist, and ready to be the exception. In addition to this confidence, which carved itself into the foundation of my journalistic success, my MA in Journalism equipped me with innumerable skills that continue to guide my reportage even today.”

David Brooks, Alumni Relations Officer at the University of Westminster, said: “We are delighted that Puja’s essential work as an author and journalist is being recognised in this way. The Study UK Alumni Awards are very competitive, so to be chosen as one of this year’s global finalists by the British Council is a fantastic achievement. Puja’s success adds to the many Westminster alumni that have been highlighted through these Awards since they started.”

Learn more about Alumni and Supporters at the University of Westminster.