In the quiet village of Titora, just off the beaten path about 100 kilometers from Delhi, lives Atul Kumar , an 18-year-old Dalit student whose story has captured the hearts of everyone around him. Titora, tucked away near NH-58, feels like a world apart. The roads turn into dusty trails, and GPS systems falter, leaving travelers to rely on the age-old method of asking locals for directions.
When you arrive in Titora, it’s hard to miss the pride that radiates from its people. They all know where Atul lives. “Oh, the family with the IIT boys?” a passerby says proudly.
A TOI report shares Atul’s remarkable journey — from his triumph in the JEE-Advanced exam to the heartbreak of nearly losing his seat at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad — has become the central topic at every tea stall and gathering in the village. Atul’s dream of attending IIT was nearly crushed by a missed deadline for paying his acceptance fee. Financial constraints and a technical glitch prevented him from submitting the required Rs 17,500 in time, leading to the cancellation of his admission.
But on Tuesday, a glimmer of hope appeared when the Supreme Court , led by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, took up Atul’s plea. The CJI personally assured Atul, "We will help you as far as possible," as the court sought responses from the Joint Seat Allocation Authority and IIT-Madras. Back in Titora, the excitement is palpable.
Atul’s family is revered in the village, not only for their resilience but also for the a.