From Carrying Pilgrims on Mules to IIT Madras: Atul Kumar's Inspiring Story Every Aspiring IITian Should Know
From ferrying pilgrims on mules in Kedarnath to cracking IIT-JAM 2025, Atul Kumar’s inspiring journey to IIT Madras proves how determination and hard work can overcome all odds.
Humble Beginnings Atul Kumar hails from a remote and picturesque village in Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand, a region where education often takes a backseat due to geographical challenges and limited awareness, especially in the hilly terrain where opportunities are scarce.
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Early Life Struggles Coming from a financially constrained family, Atul had to shoulder responsibilities from an early age, working as a horse and mule handler during the Kedarnath Dham yatra season, ferrying pilgrims through steep and treacherous mountain paths to support his household.
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Limited Exposure Until completing his Class 12, Atul was largely unaware of India’s premier educational institutions, including the IITs, as his village lacked career guidance, access to information, and mentorship that could help him dream beyond his immediate surroundings.
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Late Start, Strong Resolve Atul began his IIT-JAM preparation in July 2024, immediately after the demanding yatra season ended. With June entirely devoted to guiding pilgrims and earning a living, he channelled his renewed energy and late start into relentless study sessions.
Driven by Aspiration Fuelled by the dream of moving away from the backbreaking and seasonal work of carrying travellers on mules, Atul aspired to build a life centred around intellectual pursuits, academic growth, and a career that would secure long-term stability for his family.
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Overcoming Obstacles Juggling his responsibilities between earning for his family and preparing for one of the country’s toughest entrance exams, Atul had to fight through inadequate study resources, erratic schedules, and mental exhaustion, yet his unwavering commitment never faltered.
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Triumph at IIT-JAM 2025 After months of rigorous self-study and sheer determination, Atul’s perseverance bore fruit when he cracked the highly competitive IIT-JAM exam, earning a well-deserved seat in the MSc Mathematics programme at IIT Madras, one of India’s top institutions.
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Waves of Joy Back Home The moment the results were announced, his village erupted in celebration. Relatives, neighbours, and even those who had once doubted him showered him with congratulatory calls, seeing his achievement as a collective victory for their entire community.
Inspiring Journey Atul’s extraordinary rise from ferrying pilgrims in the harsh Himalayan terrain to walking the prestigious corridors of IIT Madras is a living testament to perseverance, proving that with an unyielding will, access to the right guidance, and unshakeable belief in oneself, even the most daunting odds can be overcome.
Saurav Pandey is the Deputy Manager of Content at Moneycontrol, specialising in content strategy, execution and performance analysis. He integrates advanced SEO techniques to deliver high-impact, data-driven content formats. His expertise spans various beats, including education, career, science and others, where he adopts a technical approach to optimise visibility, improve search rankings, and drive organic traffic growth. He can be reached out at Saurav.Pandey@nw18.com.
