Good Samaritans who offered to help a poor village boy pay admission fees to IIT Madras prove humanity still exists in this world

A boy who hails from a small village in India’s southern state of Karnataka is the first from the area to have cracked JEE(Advanced), one of the toughest exams to make ways to the IITs of the country. Even as it was a moment to rejoice over this feat, the scene at Sandeep Tukkunor’s home in Bidar district’s backward village Ghogga had been gloomy until a few days ago.

The family was running against time to arrange funds so that the boy could secure admission in IIT Madras. It was not possible for a daily wage worker to sponsor Rs 1 lakh in the next 48 hours for his son's education.

Sandeep's father Hanumanthappa digs well for a living and earns just about enough to feed his family of six – wife, three sons and a daughter. He had no money to help his son live his IIT dream. When it almost seemed like all the doors were shut, help poured in from good Samaritans who read Sandeep’s story in media.

Three good souls - Ramzan Kalkura, a lecturer in Udupi, Jayakumar, a businessman from Bengaluru, and Dr Santosh Kanshetti from Kalaburagi - assured Sandeep they were ready to bear the cost of his studies and other expenses.

Sandeep also informed that employee associations of private mobile network providers visited his house, offering to sponsor his admission fees. Raju, a banker from Bengaluru, he said, offered to help him get an education loan at zero interest.

“Numerous persons have approached me, saying they are willing to help. However, I have requested them to wait till Wednesday as I am visiting Hyderabad for document verification," he said.

The boy is now overjoyed and is in Hyderabad for document verification following which he says, he will take the support of the good Samaritans to get into one of India’s best college. We wish him all the very best!