Dream Turnaround: Farmer’s Son Cracks JEE Advanced, Drawing Inspiration From Dhoni

Ahmedabad: This is a feel-good story that is bound to warm your heart.

An 18-year-old son of a farmer has cracked the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Advanced to qualify for admission to Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), the country’s premier engineering college.

Vijay Makwana, whose father is a small-time farmer from Ahmedabad, wants to study computer or mechanical engineering from IIT Kharagpur or Roorkee.

“I want to pursue Masters, but after completing my B Tech I will look for a job to support my family,” Vijay was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.

In a remarkable turnaround, after securing just 65 per cent in Gujarat Secondary Education Board (GSEB) Class 12 exams, and an ordinary rank of 94,382 in JEE Main, Vijay managed an all-India rank of 1,849 in Scheduled Caste category in JEE Advanced.

A cricket lover, Vijay is motivated by MS Dhoni’s career path. “His patience and ability to perform in tough times inspired me. When I didn’t do well in class 12 exams and JEE Main, I did not lose patience. I worked hard to crack JEE Advanced,” he said.

The annual income of the family is less than Rs 50,000 and his father struggles to make both ends meet.

It was not easy for the head of the family to fund the education of three children. However, they knew the only way to break the poverty cycle was through education.

“They worked hard to fulfil my dream for admission into IIT,” said Vijay, whose education from nursery stage was supported by Ahmedabad-based organisation, Visamo Kids Foundation.

His elder brother completed M Tech from Indus University, Ahmedabad, with the support of the Gujarat government’s scholarship programme.

“I studied regularly and followed classes of coaching institute. The course materials and online mock tests helped me crack the entrance exam,” Vijay revealed about his JEE Advanced preparation.

It was all the more creditable as Vijay didn’t perform up to expectations in the state’s Class XII Board exams and JEE Main. “I could not balance between board exams and entrance test preparation therefore, my performance dipped in the Main,” explained Vijay who secured 65 per cent in Gujarat Secondary Education Board (GSEB) class 12, and got a rank of 94,382 in JEE Main.

Once he starts earning, Vijay wants to support underprivileged children from his village. “I will also guide engineering aspirants on admission into the top educational institutes.”