Three outstanding Indian scholars, including two women, have been selected as the first winners of the prestigious scholarships announced in honour of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [Images] by his alma mater, Cambridge.    

The three scholars, who will pursue doctoral study at the St John's College of the Cambridge University, are: Niladri Banerjee, 24; Nitu Duggal, 31; and Manasa Patnam, 24.
    
Banerjee, who grew up in Kolkata, is reaching the end of his master's programme at the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur. After his PhD he wants to remain in the field of academics.
    
"I always dreamt of being able to go to Cambridge. Probably because I heard that Isaac Newton studied there. The desire was very persistent, so much so, that it can safely be called a childhood dream," Banerjee said.
    
Patnam, who was engaged as a teaching/research fellow at the Lahore [Images] University of Management Science , is studying to be an economist and would like to focus her work on health and development issues.
    
"I have been to the United Kingdom while studying for my MSc degree at the University of Oxford. I made many friends of diverse nationalities..." said Patnam, who did her schooling in Delhi.
    
Duggal, who is pursuing MPhil in educational research at the University of Cambridge, has spent 10 years
working with underprivileged children in a Delhi administration school.
    
Duggal said: "It is a very rich experience working in an international community. Cambridge with its natural beauty and historical importance is a wonderful place to study."