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Pani puri vendor's son cracks JEE, gets into IIT after second attempt

Pani puri vendor's son cracks JEE, gets into IIT after second attempt

India Today11-07-2025
Harsh Gupta, a 19-year-old from Kalyan, Maharashtra, has turned his failures into fuel and shattered stereotypes to earn a seat at IIT Roorkee. But this isn't just a story of academic success; it's a tale of determination, illness, poverty, and resilience.Son of a roadside pani puri vendor, Santosh Gupta, Harsh lives in a cramped two-room chawl in Thane district with his parents, grandmother, and two younger brothers. The family, with its modest earnings, had little access to resources or awareness of elite institutes like IIT. Harsh first heard of IIT only after his Class 10 boards, during the Covid-19 pandemic. His academic journey since then has been anything but easy.advertisementHe failed Class 11, an event that triggered criticism from relatives and deep self-doubt. But Harsh did not give up. Instead, he picked himself up, reappeared for Class 11, passed Class 12 with flying colours, and scored 98.9 percentile in JEE Main. He also qualified for JEE Advanced and secured admission to IIT Roorkee on his second attempt.
Harsh credits much of his turnaround to Motion Education, a Kota-based coaching institute that extended him structured academic guidance and emotional support. 'There were times when I was physically and emotionally exhausted. But Motion never gave up on me. They believed in me even when I lost belief in myself,' said Harsh.His journey was further marred by medical hardship. He was diagnosed with Rectal Prolapse, a painful, recurring condition that disrupted his studies with frequent hospital visits. To make matters worse, Harsh also faced personal loss with the demise of close relatives during crucial exams.Despite all odds, he remained resolute. Inspired by his father's dream and his family's sacrifices, Harsh pushed harder. He studied for up to 12 hours a day and worked part-time to support his brothers' education. 'Dreams are meant to be big and so is the effort you must put in to chase them,' he says.Harsh's story is not just his own. It represents thousands of aspirants who fall, stumble, and still rise—thanks to the power of belief, mentorship, and unshakable grit.(With inputs from Dharmendra Dubey, Mumbai)- EndsMust Watch
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