6 days ago
Meet Atul, Who Worked As A Horse-Mule Handler And Cracked IIT Madras Without Coaching
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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.
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