Vellarikundu (Kerala): Behind the professional success of Surendran K Patel, a native of Balal who has been re-elected as the Judge of the 240th Judicial District Court in the US state of Texas, lies a saga of intense struggle and resilience through deep financial adversity.

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Financial hardship disrupted his education early on. To stay afloat, he took up work as a beedi roller, yet he never surrendered his ambitions. He completed his pre-degree studies at Elerithattu Government College and earned his undergraduate degree from Payyanur College. His time studying for his LLB degree at Kozhikode Government Law College was a period of severe trial. To cover his educational expenses, he worked as a cleaning worker in a hotel.

He began his legal career in Kanhangad as a junior under Advocate P Appukuttan. Later moving to New Delhi, Surendran practised as an advocate in the Supreme Court of India.

Surendran relocated to the United States after his wife Subha secured employment there. While in the US, he obtained his local legal licence and completed his Master of Laws (LLM) degree. Though he contested the judicial election in 2020 and faced defeat, he secured victory in 2022.

In the recent public election held in Fort Bend County, Houston, Surendran contested as the Democratic Party candidate and defeated Republican candidate Asha Reddy to secure his re-election as district judge.