Village In Up Prays For Dalit Boy Who Missed Iit Seat Due To Late Payment Of Fees | Agra News

TITORA (MUZAFFARNAGAR): The story of Atul Kumar, a bright-eyed 18-year-old Dalit student, has rippled through the quiet, unassuming village of Titora, a place that hides just a little off the map, about 100km from Delhi. Despite being only a short detour from NH-58, which links the capital to bustling Muzaffarnagar in UP, Titora remains something of a secret — roads dissolve into dusty tracks, apps promising directions stutter and stall.Travellers must rely on the timeless art of asking local folks for directions.
But once you arrive, there’s no mistaking the pride that radiates from its people. Finding Atul’s home is easy. “Oh, the family with the IIT boys?” chime in passersby. In Titora now, conversation about Atul’s triumph, his despair, and the glimmer of hope offered by the Supreme Court dominates every tea stall and the village square.
A Supreme Court bench, led by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, on Tuesday had taken up Atul’s plea. From a below-poverty-line family, Atul’s dreams of attending IIT (ISM) Dhanbad were nearly extinguished by a missed deadline to pay fees.
He had cleared the JEE-Advanced exam but financial constraints and a technical glitch prevented him from paying the Rs 17,500 acceptance fee on time, leading to the cancellation of his hard-earned seat. In a display of empathy, the top court sought responses from the Joint Seat Allocation Authority and IIT-Madras, where Atul had sat for his exams, with the CJI promising, “We will help you as far as possible.”
Back in Titora, villagers can’t stop talking about the family — arguably the most illustrious. Atul’s father, Rajendra Kumar, 47, labours at a cloth factory in Meerut to make Rs 450 per day, while his mother, Rajesh Devi, 45, juggles between toiling in the fields and making cots to supplement their meagre income.
However, cycling to work and sacrificing personal needs, Atul’s brothers achieved remarkable academic success. Mohit Kumar, 24, completed his MTech from NIT Hamirpur. Rohit Kumar, 23, graduated with a BTech from IIT-Kharagpur. Amit, 20, is in college and doing well. He wants to go abroad for higher studies.
“We have only one goal — to educate our four sons, no matter the cost,” Rajesh told TOI on Wednesday.
For Atul, the Supreme Court’s promise offers a second chance. “Only we know what we’ve gone through,” he said. “I need to do this for my parents. And I’m waiting to pay off Rs 3 lakh which my father took as a loan to help us study.”
When Atul secured admission to the prestigious institute in Dhanbad, the letter of acceptance reached him on June 20. The entire village celebrated with his family, but their delight quickly turned into despondence. The family had just four days to scrape together the acceptance fee, a sum that seemed insurmountable.
All of Titora, a village where aspirations often suffocate under the weight of poverty, gathered around Atul’s home — built under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana — to offer their support. Pawan Kumar, who lent Rs 10,000 to help with the fee, said, “The entire village testifies that despite their financial struggle, education has always been their priority and we are sure Atul and Amit will go on to emulate their older siblings.”
Rajendra keeps repeating that “the Chief Justice has personally assured Atul that the court would explore ways to help him reclaim his seat at IIT”. Neighbours and friends repeat it along with him. “Judge sahab ne bol diya to hoga (If the CJI has said it, it will be done)”
That will be a start for the poverty-struck family as the weight of their financial burdens is immense. Rajendra owes over Rs 3 lakh to friends, relatives, and neighbours. “Everything I earn goes towards my sons’ education. My wife keeps the household running with what little she makes,” he said. Their struggles are obvious.
“For years, we’ve cut back on everything. We stopped buying new clothes unless it was absolutely necessary. We think a hundred times before deciding what to cook. Craving something as simple as paneer is a luxury we can’t afford. Potatoes will do,” Rajendra said. “For six years now, since my eldest son enrolled at NIT, we’ve been barely managing. But I believe — I have to believe — that better days will come.”
Atul’s teacher at the local school, Rajkumar Motla, described him as “a spring of hope.” He said: “He’s made us all proud. His story is proof that brilliance exists everywhere, even in the poorest corners of society.” he added. “We’re all praying for him. Just see, the gods will listen.”