Mattilo Manikyam: Shoe polisher clears IIT exam

Abhishek Kumar, who pitches his life by polishing the shoes at his father’s shop is survived by three younger brothers and a mother. His father is a cobbler who stitches old clothes and his mother stitches rags to support the family financially. It is a matter of fact that Abhishek will remain as a role model for many students who have ample facilities to study but doesn’t succeed in toughest entrance exam of IIT.

Abhishek secured 154th rank in the SC category of IIT entrance test whose dream is to pursue aerospace engineering at IIT, Kanpur. ‘My father and mother earn each Rs. 100 per day but they never held me back from facilitating the better education. We live in a small room without electricity. By God’s grace, a teacher of a coaching insitute helped me out. Iam now worried about the fees. From where can I manage the amount? This question is troubling my mind but even if I have to sell myself, I am ready for it,’ Abhishek opens his poverty before a media channel.

With relatives flocking their house after hearing the news, this poor joyous father says he has not been able to open his shop since the IIT-JEE result came out. Abhishek says he wants to support his siblings education and help them to get into prestigious institutes.

India is one of the paradoxical places where you get these kinds of ‘Mattilo Manikyaalu’ in huge numbers. What we need is an humanistic eye to trace them out. Let Abhishek be a role model for many students who visit our Cinejosh.