From pony handler in Kedarnath to IIT Madras: Atul Kumar’s inspiring journey

Atul Kumar, a young man from Rudraprayag in Uttarakhand, spent his early adulthood supporting pilgrims by carrying luggage on horseback along the challenging trails of Kedarnath.

Living in tents with no access to the internet and limited time to study, he began preparing for the IIT Joint Admission Test for Master’s (JAM) after returning from the hills in July last year.

Despite these hardships, relying mostly on self-study and notes from a friend, he cracked the IIT-JAM 2025 and secured a spot in a master’s program at IIT Madras.

Atul said his greatest motivation was to “move ahead in life” and do something meaningful for himself and his family.

He had little awareness of IITs until his teachers inspired him after Class 12. His preparation, done in just seven months, involved long hours of study despite irregular access to resources.

His story resonated widely—his success was celebrated in his village and among his peers, symbolizing resilience and aspiration in the face of adversity.

On cracking IIT-JAM, the response from his village was overwhelming. “More than my own joy, it was the happiness on others’ faces that touched me,” he told ANI, describing how his success resonated with teachers, neighbours—even strangers.