I hail from Balurghat, a small, picturesque town known for its lush greenery and warm-hearted people. It’s a peaceful place, but not the kind of place brimming with opportunities. Growing up, my father, a retired medical representative, and my mother, a homemaker who once dreamed of being a professional dancer, sacrificed so much to give me an English-medium education. My schooling at Atreyee English Medium School – later Atreyee D.A.V. Public School – was their gift to me.
After school, my path felt less like a choice and more like a series of compromises. I pursued a BSc in Zoology at Balurghat College under Gour Banga University, not out of passion but because it was the only real option available to me. I even took a year off to prepare for medical entrance exams, but I missed the cut. At that point, I convinced myself this was all I deserved in life.
But life had other plans.
GATE: A leap of faith
My first attempt at GATE in 2022 during my MSc in the University of Burdwan was half-hearted at best. It was not until 2023, while working as a Branch Manager at the Indian Post Office (Khaspur Branch Office, near Balurghat in West Bengal) – a stable, respected government job – that I gave GATE another shot. I did not think I had it in me; I was juggling full-time work, a demanding exam, and my own doubts. But against all odds, I secured an AIR of 361 in GATE. I am now in my final year of MTech in the department of biotechnology at IIT Hyderabad.
The turning point was a friend who had cracked GATE and joined IIT Kharagpur in 2022. Until then, I didn’t even realise IITs would accept someone like me – a small-town boy with a BSc-MSc background. My friend planted the seed, and from there, ambition took root.
A new beginning at IIT Hyderabad
In August 2023, I walked into IIT Hyderabad, my first time living outside West Bengal. To say I was overwhelmed would be an understatement. The campus, the culture, the sheer brilliance of the people around me – it felt like stepping into a new universe. Coming from a modest academic background, I felt like a 10-year-old at Disneyland.
Adjusting was not hard because I did not see it as something to endure; I saw it as an opportunity. The food, the people, the workload – it all felt like a blessing. I made incredible friends who supported me in ways I will never forget. Some motivated me, others pushed me to be better, and a few even saved my CGPA with their perfectly summarised notes before exams.
Diving into IIT Culture
I did not just dip my toes into IIT’s vibrant club culture; I dove headfirst. I started with Sunshine, the mental health and counseling club, and quickly expanded to ECell, FCC, EML, MILAN, TEDxIITH, the Placement Cell, and even Kludge, where I became the Overall Coordinator for CyberCon.
Balancing all this with academics was, let’s say, “intense.” I sacrificed sleep, health, and social life outside the campus. My days started at 8 am in the lab and ended around 3 am after club work, placement prep and self-projects. Coffee became my lifeline, and weekends were just another chance to hustle. It was exhausting, but it was worth it.
Finding myself in the chaos
IIT transformed me. It stripped away my inferiority complex and rebuilt me into someone I barely recognize. I walked in as a small-town boy with a lot of doubts and walked out as someone who’s not afraid to dream big and work harder.
But it was not always smooth sailing. I often felt out of place among peers with Tier-1 undergraduate degrees, international exposure, and stellar resumes. Impostor syndrome hit hard. Yet, I learned to embrace the discomfort, let it fuel me, and find my own footing.
As I near the end of this journey, I am stepping into a career in healthcare consulting. I secured an associate consultant role at a healthcare consulting firm in the first phase of placement at IIT Hyderabad. It is a path I would not have imagined for myself a few years ago, but that’s the beauty of life – it surprises you.
Looking back, my journey is one of defying expectations, breaking free from the “play it safe” mindset, and embracing the unknown. From a small-town boy who thought he had no future to an IIT graduate ready to take on the world, I’ve come a long way.
And to anyone who feels like the “marked zebra,” standing out in a world that insists on blending in – embrace it. Sometimes, being different is the first step toward being extraordinary.
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