Behind every student's success lies a story of perseverance, sacrifice, and determination, supported by the unwavering encouragement of parents and the guidance of teachers.
This year, one such story emerged from Kota, where a JEE Advanced aspirant overcame serious health challenges with the extraordinary support of his mother, who effectively became his classmate during his preparation.
To ensure her son's studies continued despite his illness, she attended his online classes, prepared detailed notes, and those notes ultimately played a crucial role in helping him qualify for admission to an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT).
The story is that of Gunjan Kumar and his mother, Gunja, from Sitamarhi in Bihar. Gunjan had been preparing for the JEE examination at ALLEN Career Institute in Kota for two years when he fell seriously ill just before the exam.
He was diagnosed with pneumothorax, or a collapsed lung, which left him bedridden for nearly three months and unable to attend regular classes. During this period, his mother stepped in to ensure his preparation remained uninterrupted. She played recorded online lectures for him while simultaneously attending the classes herself and preparing comprehensive notes.
A homemaker with a Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree, Gunja had been living in Kota with her son. After many years away from academics, she resumed studying so she could support him in achieving his goal.
Gunjan also lives with severe visual impairment. Having lost more than 70 percent of his vision and wearing spectacles with a power of 9.5, he nevertheless secured a 91.8 percentile in JEE Main. In JEE Advanced, he achieved PWD OBC Category Rank 50 and Common PWD Rank 120. He is now set to realise his dream of becoming an IIT student by pursuing Computer Science at IIT Delhi.
His father, Rajnarayan Prasad, works as an engineer with the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), while his younger brother is also in Kota preparing for the JEE examination.
Speaking after the results, Gunjan said that circumstances are not always favourable and that competitive examinations test not only knowledge but also courage. He said he had resolved to crack IIT-JEE by studying at ALLEN Kota and had given his best effort. According to him, his mother's support during his illness proved invaluable, while the guidance of his teachers also played an important role in his success. He encouraged students to remain optimistic and continue moving forward regardless of the challenges they encounter.
Reflecting on her son's achievement, Gunja said that his dream had become her own. She admitted she was deeply worried when he fell ill, but they began attending the online lectures together, with her preparing notes to assist his studies. Seeing those notes contribute to his success brought her immense satisfaction.
Naveen Maheshwari, Director of ALLEN Career Institute, said Kota inspires not only students but also parents. He remarked that the city does more than prepare students for competitive examinations—it builds confidence and teaches them how to overcome adversity. He described Gunjan's journey as an inspiration for both students and their families.
Why He Chose Kota
Despite his visual impairment, Gunjan remained determined to pursue his ambition of studying at an IIT. He chose ALLEN Career Institute in Kota for his JEE preparation because he believed it would provide the best opportunity to achieve his goal.
He never allowed his physical limitations to define him. Gunjan scored 82.5 percent in Class 10 and 70 percent in Class 12.
Before moving to Kota, he researched various coaching institutes and came across a video featuring Mridul Agrawal, the All India topper in both JEE Main and JEE Advanced 2021 from ALLEN. Inspired by Agrawal's success, Gunjan decided to prepare in Kota. He convinced his parents to send him there, and recognising his determination, they fully supported his decision. In 2023, he enrolled at ALLEN Career Institute and began working towards his dream.
A Major Setback Before the Examination
Gunjan's preparation was progressing smoothly until he encountered a major health setback shortly before the examination.
On October 5, 2025, he appeared for a routine test at the institute. The following day, he developed severe chest pain. Medical examinations revealed that lifting a heavy object had created pressure on his left lung, causing it to collapse.
He was diagnosed with pneumothorax and was advised complete bed rest, keeping him away from regular classes for nearly three months. Despite the setback, with his mother's support and continued dedication, he was able to resume his preparation and eventually achieve his goal of securing admission to IIT Delhi.
