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Education will end the caste system, says dalit IIT icon


KHARAGPUR:
It was drizzling when Raju Saroj arrived at IIT-Kharagpur on Wednesday evening, carrying with him a certificate for admission, the blessings of his parents and grandparents, and most of his life in a little hold-all. The 18-year-old, who has turned into a dalit icon along with his brother and fellow IITian Brijesh, has got a seat in electronics and telecommunication engineering here. On reaching the campus, the first call went to his mother and his first visit was to the library. TOI found the 167-ranker waiting outside Kharagpur station. How does it feel to be turning a big new chapter in his life? "I have lived outside my home for seven years. It doesn't bother me to stay in an unknown town among new people. I know this is where my future belongs. I have a lot of responsibility on my shoulders and I shall not let any doubt or fear ruin it," he said as the IIT-Kgp bus pulled up.

 

After placing a call to his mother in Rehua Lalganj village, some 100km from Allahabad, he gave a shy smile and said, "My parents are not educated. So unlike many of my batchmates, who are arriving with their guardians, I preferred to travel alone because my family may have faced troubles returning home." His father Dharamdas Saroj is a daily labourer, who is back in Surat after celebrating the success of his two sons. Brijesh, who ranked 410 in IIT-JEE, has enrolled in IIT-Mumbai. "He is in trusted hands. My chacha-ji, who works in a garage, lives there," said Raju. The brothers were the toast of the country after overcoming financial and caste hurdles to crack IIT-JEE. Union HRD minister Smriti Irani waived the admission fee but Raju has to pay the Rs 20,000 fee for the first semester. He is hoping for a scholarship. "A lot of people have told my father not to worry as they will sponsor our studies at IIT," he said. IIT-JEE chairperson Adrijit Goswami said: "I hope he makes his parents proud."

 

Patting his backpack, Raju said he is carrying a laptop gifted by Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, who had feted both brothers and gave them Rs 1 lakh each. "The CM was very encouraging and told us stories of great achievers and asked us to draw inspiration from them. My parents had accompanied us," Raju said, beaming. But his face clouded over when he recalled the taunts of villagers and the way stones were thrown at their house after they returned from meeting the CM. "The caste system has to go and it is only education that can put an end to it. Those who threw stones at our homes are jealous and cannot accept the success of dalits. But one day even they will speak with us. At the moment I better not talk about it," Raju said.

 

The mention of cinema brings the glitter back to his eyes. The only time he went to a cinema was to watch PK. "I want to be like Rancho (Aamir's character from Three Idiots). He is innovative, friendly and enthusiastic. He is a good person, and a brilliant student. I hope when I leave this institute with a B Tech, I will have left an impression on the minds of people at IIT-Kharagpur," he said, as he walked towards the library to see if he could borrow books at the late hour and start studying right away. Suddenly his face lit up, and he said: "Do you know, Aamir Khan's PA and author Vandana Shah have asked Brijesh to visit them in Mumbai? Let Brijesh enjoy. I am here to look forward to my days in the country's oldest IIT. I am still in awe of this campus." He wants to take home good grades during Diwali. "I am confident of coping with the studies. At the moment everything is very new to me. I will get my room on Thursday and will try to catch up with my roommates. Hopefully, I can find the money for the first semester fees and purchasing daily essentials," he said.

Posted on 24 Jul 2015