Son of NREGA labourer makes it to IIT-Delhi

Son of a NREGA labourer, Abhishake Meen was completely unaware about the IITs till Class X, and yet he became the first person from his village in Kota to make it to the prestigious institution.
18-year-old Abhishake, resident of Chatrapura village in Etawa area of Kota district, is now a student of IIT-Delhi, pursuing Industrial Production in the Mechanical branch after scoring 257 rank (reserved category) in the IIT-JEE exam this year.
Abhishake, who did his schooling from a Hindi-medium school in the village, was completely unaware about the IITs, one of the most sought after engineering schools in India, till his Class Xth exam.

"When I obtained 72 % in Class X my school teachers suggested my father to send me to Kota for coaching and to prepare for IIT," Abhishake Meena told PTI, adding it was only then he came to know about IIT.
"I took coaching for only IIT and did self studies for Class XII exams and obtained 83% marks. However, my friends and coaching faculty helped me by providing notes for the higher secondary studies," he said, adding that in his first attempt for IIT, he did clear the exam but was not allotted any colleges.
"That did not discourage me and I decided to try again," he said.

His father, Ramdayal, had to borrow money for his coaching expenses from a local lender at an interest of 2 % as NREGA wages and income from their agriculture land were not enough to cover the fees.

After completing his engineering degree, Abhishake hopes to purse innovative research that will benefit the lives in the villages of India.
"There is huge talent in the villages and I would work tobring out the same with innovative engineering education," he said.
"I am overwhelmed with joy. I am very happy as my son has succeeded in the exam and has become the first IITan of the village," said Ramdayal.