Bhubaneswar, July 22 (UDN): Defying geographical and socio-economic challenges, a tribal student from a Maoist-affected village in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district has secured admission to the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Dhanbad after successfully clearing the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Advanced.
Sagram Marandi, a resident of Dumurikudar village under Bijatala block, earned a seat at the premier engineering institute, marking a significant achievement for his family and the remote tribal region he hails from.
Consistent Academic Excellence
Sagram had earlier distinguished himself by emerging as the Mayurbhanj district topper in the Higher Secondary (+2) examinations. He was also recognised as the top-performing Scheduled Tribe (ST) student in Odisha.
Reflecting on his journey, Sagram said he had set his sights on the IITs from the very beginning of his higher secondary education.
“I decided in the first year itself that I wanted to crack IIT. It is one of the toughest examinations in the country, so qualifying it is a dream come true. I scored 68 marks and secured an All India Rank of 818 in my category,” he said.
Family’s Support Key to Success
Sagram attributed his achievement to the unwavering support of his parents and teachers, who encouraged him throughout his preparation despite the challenges of studying in a remote area.
His father, Hajam Marandi, said his son’s determination exceeded all expectations.
“His dedication and hard work made this possible. We always supported him, but it was his perseverance that brought him this success. We are proud of his achievement and hope he continues to excel,” he said.
Inspiring Rural Aspirants
Sagram hopes his success will motivate other students from tribal and rural communities to dream big and pursue higher education.
He urged young aspirants to remain focused and believe in their abilities, irrespective of the circumstances they come from.
Looking ahead, Sagram plans to pursue civil engineering at IIT Dhanbad and hopes to use his education to contribute to infrastructure development and society in the future.