3 Valley boys make it to IITs

Rifat Mohidin

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, June 19

Three boys from the Valley — Yawar Altaf, Raja Fida and Mehrajuddin — are all set to join the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) league this year.

Yawar of Srinagar said he secured a rank of 2,563 in the JEE advanced exam, which is the gateway to IITs.

“Since my childhood, I had an inclination towards physics. I have been preparing for the IIT entrance examination for the past two or three years. I am extremely happy that I will get to pursue physics at one of the IITs. I am thankful to my parents and mentors who supported me and counselled me at every step,” he said.

Despite the turmoil in the region where education is facing a setback due to frequent strikes and closure of schools, students have overcome the odds.

Students said they were thankful to their mentors at Rise Institute in Srinagar which is being run by IIT alumni, who train students for admissions abroad and for JEE exams.

Raja Fida from south Kashmir, said recently said, “I am relieved that I got a rank which will ensure that I study at an IIT, which has always been my dream. Based on my rank, I am looking forward to pursuing civil engineering from IIT-Dhanbad. I want to thank my parents and teachers for their unending support throughout my preparation.”

Mehrajuddin from Srinagar, who secured a category rank of 38, is also one of the students who made his IIT dream come true this year.

“It’s encouraging to see our students achieve such results despite difficult circumstances. Their results will inspire the student community to strive for the best,” said Salman Shahid who teaches at Rise Institute.