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New Indian Express
20-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Dehradun Diary: From Kedarnath mule paths to IIT Madras, Atul's journey is one of grit and goals
Atul Kumar once made a living by transporting pilgrims on mules and horseback along the Kedarnath Dham trails, suppoting his family with the little he earned. Now, Atul head for IIT Madras, having cleared the IIT-Joint Admission Test (JAM) 2025. Son of a horse breeder from a small village in Rudraprayag, Atul says, 'My only goal is to progress and do something better for myself and my family.' He began preparing for the IIT-JAM examination last July after returning from Kedarnath, relying on a friend's shared notes due to limited resources and connectivity in the mountainous region. His dedication led to success in the February examination. Guv intervention sought in alleged poll fraud Petitioner Shakti Singh Bartwal has approached the Raj Bhavan complaining of the Uttarakhand State Election Commission's inaction on voter list irregularities for the upcoming panchayat polls. Bartwal alleges, the SEC defied High Court orders to probe individuals registered in two separate constituencies, in violation of the Uttarakhand Panchayat Raj Act. He accuses the SEC of malicious functioning, favouring certain individuals, despite the specific directions for thorough probe and action. Bartwal urged the Governor to intervene immediately, threatening to file a contempt of court petition if the SEC continues to disregard judicial directives. Dham replica sparks row, priests threaten action The Char Dham Teerth Purohit Mahapanchayat has strongly opposed construction of a symbolic Kedarnath temple in Saifai, Uttar Pradesh, vowing legal action if the plan proceeds. 'Replicating Kedarnath Dham's architecture and sanctum hurts sentiments of millions of Sanatanis,' Suresh Semwal, Mahapanchayat president, said. He highlighted their past opposition to similar moves and cited Uttarakhand's July 2024 resolution against misusing Char Dham names. 'While temple construction is welcome, Char Dhams hold unique, sacred significance for crores of Hindus,' the priests' body statement read. narendra sethi Our correspondent in Uttarakhand narendrasethi@
News18
18-07-2025
- News18
Meet Atul, Who Worked As A Horse-Mule Handler And Cracked IIT Madras Without Coaching
Last Updated: Atul Kumar, a horse handler's son from Uttarakhand, cracked IIT-JAM 2025 with no coaching. Now headed to IIT Madras, his inspiring journey is a triumph of grit and self-belief. Atul Kumar, the son of a horse handler from Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand, has made headlines by securing a seat at IIT Madras through the prestigious IIT-Joint Admission Test for Master's (JAM) 2025. Once a young man who ferried pilgrims on horseback along the steep trails of Kedarnath Dham to support his family, Atul's journey from the Himalayan slopes to one of India's top institutes is nothing short of extraordinary. Atul comes from a modest background in a remote village where educational resources are scarce, and awareness about competitive exams is minimal. Despite these limitations, his resolve to create a better life for himself and his family pushed him to dream big. Sharing his journey, Atul said his only motivation was 'to move ahead in life and do something better" for himself and his family. 'I am from a small village in Rudraprayag… I did not know much till the 12th standard. There is not much awareness in hilly areas. I did not know that something like IITs even exists," Kumar told ANI. Support, Self-Study And An Unshakeable Will After completing his 12th grade, Atul did not take any entrance exams, primarily due to a lack of guidance and exposure. However, his path took a turn when he learned from teachers that he could still pursue a Master's degree from the IITs. Their encouragement became the turning point in his life. 'I did not take the entrance exam after completing the 12th grade. But then I got to know through teachers that I could pursue a Master's degree from IIT. My teachers and friends supported me and motivated me a lot," he added. Atul's preparation journey was as challenging as his life in the mountains. He started studying for the IIT-JAM exam in July 2024, right after returning from Kedarnath, where he had spent June helping his family earn a living by guiding pilgrims on horses and mules. The conditions were tough — there was no internet, and they lived in tents, making it nearly impossible to study during the pilgrimage season. 'I began studying in July. I had just returned from Kedarnath, where I was working in June–there was no network, and we lived in tents, so studying was not possible. My friend Mahavir, who had previously prepared, helped me a lot by sharing his notes. I studied consistently till January, and the exam was in February," he said. His focus remained unwavering throughout, driven by a deep desire to break free from the limitations of his circumstances. 'My biggest motivation was to move ahead in life to escape that place and create something better for myself," he added. From Local Hero To IITian Atul's father continues to work as a horse handler, and the family relies on this as their primary source of income. Atul often helped his father during holidays, balancing his responsibilities between work and studies. His elder sister is married, and his younger sister has just completed her education. What makes Atul's success even more meaningful is the pride it brought to his community. The overwhelming response and love he received after the results were announced touched him deeply. 'The response has been overwhelming. More than my own joy, it was the happiness on others' faces that touched me, from teachers to people who never even taught me, everyone called to congratulate me. It feels good to bring pride to my community," he added. Atul Kumar's story is a testament to resilience, determination, and the power of education to transform lives. From guiding horses on treacherous mountain trails to walking the corridors of IIT Madras, he has shown that no dream is too big if one is willing to work for it. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Mint
17-07-2025
- Mint
Inspiring ride! Youth who worked as horse-mule handler in Kedarnath cracks IIT-JAM, to join IIT Madras
Atul Kumar, who carried pilgrims on horses and mules along the steep tracks of Kedarnath Dham to support his family, has cleared the IIT-Joint Admission Test for Master's (JAM) 2025 and got selected for IIT Madras. Kumar, son of a horse handler, narrated his inspiring journey from a small village in Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand, to the prestigious technology institute. He said his only motivation was to move ahead in life and do something better for himself and his family. 'I am from a small village in Rudraprayag... I did not know much till the 12th standard. There is not much awareness in hilly areas. I did not know that something like IITs even exists,' Kumar told ANI. ' I did not take the entrance exam after completing the 12th grade. But then I got to know through teachers that I could pursue a Master's degree from IIT. My teachers and friends supported me and motivated me a lot,' he added. Talking about his preparation strategy, Kumar said he started preparing for the IIT-JAM exam in July last year, after returning from Kedarnath, and took help from his friend for notes. 'I began studying in July. I had just returned from Kedarnath, where I was working in June--there was no network, and we lived in tents, so studying was not possible. My friend Mahavir, who had previously prepared, helped me a lot by sharing his notes. I studied consistently till January, and the exam was in February,' he said. 'My biggest motivation was to move ahead in life -- to escape that place and create something better for myself.' Kumar further said that his father works as a horse handler and it is the family's main livelihood. During holidays, Kumar used to help him. His elder sister is married, and the younger one has just completed her education. 'The response has been overwhelming. More than my own joy, it was the happiness on others' faces that touched me -- from teachers to people who never even taught me, everyone called to congratulate me. It feels good to bring pride to my community,' he added.
