Meet Atul Kumar, son of daily wage labourer who got a second chance at IIT

Atul Kumar, the son of a daily wage labourer, was granted admission to IIT Dhanbad after the Supreme Court intervened when his family couldn't pay the fees in time.

In Short

• Atul Kumar missed the IIT fee deadline but was given a second chance by the Supreme Court
• Atul studied 18 hours a day to crack the JEE Advanced Exam on his second attempt
• The court cited his talent and potential as reasons for allowing his late admission

Atul Kumar’s story is one of sheer determination. Hailing from Titora village in Muzaffarnagar, the 18-year-old faced a crushing blow when he missed the fee payment deadline for IIT Dhanbad, despite successfully clearing the JEE Advanced Exam.

The Rs 17,500 acceptance fee was due on June 24, 2024, but his family, supported by his father’s modest daily wage, couldn't gather the funds in time.

Atul’s dream of becoming an engineer was suddenly hanging by a thread. But then came a lifeline – one that would change everything.

The Supreme Court of India stepped in to give Atul Kumar a second chance. Under Article 142 of the Constitution, which allows the court to pass any order in the interest of justice, a bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud ordered IIT Dhanbad to admit Atul to its BTech programme.

"We cannot allow such a talented young boy to go away. He cannot be left in the lurch," the bench declared. It was a moment of immense relief not just for Atul, but also for his family and the entire village.

HARD WORK AND DETERMINATION PAY OFF

Atul’s journey to cracking one of the toughest entrance exams in India was nothing short of extraordinary.

He studied for 18 hours a day, with breaks only for food and sleep, for 11 months at a Kanpur-based coaching centre that caters to economically weaker sections.

His dedication finally paid off when he cleared the exam on his second attempt.

But his success didn’t come without its challenges. Coming from a Dalit family and facing immense financial pressure, Atul’s story is a reminder of the hurdles many students face in pursuing higher education.

Atul, who is passionate about chemistry and looks up to Dr BR Ambedkar as a role model, had a message for other aspirants feeling overwhelmed by the pressure of entrance exams.

“If one opportunity ends, then another opens up. If someone dreams of studying at IIT, they can pursue an MTech from IIT if they fail to get into BTech," he said.

With his court battle behind him, Atul is now looking ahead to his studies at IIT Dhanbad, where he plans to pursue a career in engineering, following in the footsteps of his older brother, who is studying at IIT Kharagpur.

(With PTI inputs)