CAT topper helps students realize their IIT dreams

(Published in the Times of India, January 11, 2008)

Geetha Rao | TNN

Bangalore: There’s much more to Manu Midha than scoring a percentile of 99.85 in CAT 2007 and getting calls from six IIMs.

Once every two or three weeks, he goes to Bagalur on the outskirts of Bangalore, and helps with an organisation that trains rural students for the IIT Joint Entrance Exam. Midha and his ex-IITian friends talk to rural boys and girls and helps them realize their dreams.

“I studied at IIT-Kharagpur, a government-funded institution. Now, I have cleared CAT and will probably join one of the IIMs. These are also government-funded institutions, and they pay a Rs 2-lakh subsidy for each student. I want to return what the government has spent on me by staying in India and helping the underprivileged,’’ Midha told The Times of India.

That’s precisely why he has been a volunteer for the past six months with Dakshana Foundation, which conducts classes for 40 students in the seven Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas and the school at Bagalur near Bangalore is one of them. Students are trained for the IIT-JEE.

“Rural students have no idea what IIT is all about, and the opportunities available through higher education. So IIT alumni in Bangalore and I go to Bagalur and speak to them about IIT, so that they can relate to what they are being trained for,’’ said Manu.

While Manu gives motivational talks, there are teachers who train them for the exam. Manu and others also conduct quality checks on the training. His interest in the social sector began when he was in IIT. He and his college mates helped Praajak, an NGO which worked with underprivileged children. He’s also associated with another NGO, i Watch — the wake-up call for India which focuses on nation building.

Manu’s inspiration is Mohnish Pabrai, an investor in the United States who started the Dakshana Foundation which provides educational opportunities to economically and socially disadvantaged gifted children.

“I cannot help these children monetarily. At least I can help them through motivating them to take up the IIT exam,’’ he said.

toiblr.reporter@timesgroup.com