The 1-crore job offer for Vatsalya Chauhan, a student at IIT-Kharagpur, made headlines. The 21-year-old, the son of a welder in Bihar, will move to Seattle in October. He shares his story with ndtv.com.I was always good at studies and had a keen interest in Maths. I used to study it myself. I was enrolled at a local government school, where the quality of education and the environment was not good, so I often didn't attend the school. Generally, I used to take the help of other seniors in the village whenever I faced any problems with my studies. I loved Maths as a subject and I used to study the Maths of even higher classes, and dreamt of writing a book on Maths. But I was also naughty kid, especially with my sisters and mother. My mother and I still fight over trivial issues. I loved playing.
My parents have been very supportive throughout. They knew I would do my best because I was always good at studies. Even the villagers around knew that I was good at studies. My father did not need any persuasion to send me to Kota to join coaching classes (for the IIT entrance exam). He never pressured me to take up a government job. They (family) left all these decisions to me, they have never stopped me from doing anything that interested me. They always discussed stuff with me to help me make the right choice.
I couldn't teach a lot to my sisters because we would always end up fighting! But I still teach my younger brother whenever I get the time. One of my sisters is preparing for the medical exam and one of my brothers, who is good at Maths and Biology, wants to get into IIT. But I have advised him to go for Medicine because we don't have a good doctor in our village. I will be glad if he becomes one.
When I was going to Kota for the first time, it was difficult for my father to arrange resources because the fees they charge for coaching classes is very high (plus the hostel or room rent), but then I got a scholarship. My father arranged the fees somehow after I entered class 12, but because of my extreme interest in Maths I started studying books of a higher level ignoring my IIT preparations. I did not study the material properly there. In class 12, I stopped paying attention to Chemistry and Physics and stopped doing homework. I performed poorly in my first IIT entrance test.
After this, my father asked me to enroll in some other college, but I wanted only IIT and requested him to give me another year to prepare. During this time, we were facing financial crunch and it was getting hard for us to arrange funds, but a coaching centre in Kota arranged resources for me. They wanted me to study in their institute. They arranged accommodation, preparation fees and bore all my expenses. I remember my teacher saying to my father, "You may not have adequate funds to pay for his fees, but just give him a train ticket, a notebook and a pen and send him. We will manage everything else."
This time, I gave the IIT exam my best, and studied day in and out. My rank was 382 and I got through to IIT Kharagpur.
I chose Computer Science at IIT as it is a reputed department and the students get very good placements when they complete the course. People think that IITians only study, but the truth is that we also enjoy our lives as much. During the first year, I used to study just two days before the exams. I have made very good friends and we all studied together, we solved each other's doubts. The teachers were amazing.
One challenge that I faced during my days at IIT was that since I was from a Hindi-medium school and background, I would find it difficult to grasp stuff quickly. I overcame it by studying by myself from the book and taking help from friends.
I always wanted to join Microsoft Redmond, and that has been my first choice always. On the eve of the recruitment process, there was a written round by Microsoft and they asked us to write the best possible optimised programming codes on a notebook. Since that test went well, I was very hopeful. Then there were interviews with some executives including some from HR. They asked me about my interest in social service, since I had mentioned it in my resume. I told them I would want to do something for society. I wanted a job with a US-based company because I can learn a lot there and bring it back here. I want to see how people work there and then help others here.
I would like to share an incident - when I was going to Kota for the first time, I didn't know how I would ask for 1.5 lakhs from my dad as it was a huge amount for us. But my father arranged it for me, and asked me to not worry at all. He said he would do whatever it takes. He was ready to sell off his land, but what he wanted from me in return was to focus on my studies. In fact, my father had an eye problem, and once he went to Patna for treatment, but the cost of treatment was Rs 35,000, and he opted to not undergo that treatment because of the cost involved. He said he could undergo the same treatment for under Rs 10,000 in Nepal. He knows the importance of money, but didn't think even twice before sending me to Kota. He had faith in me and wanted me to be happy. After I joined IIT, I got to know that there was something known as a "full-body check-up". I will take my parents for it and then want them to go on a world tour. This job can fulfill a lot of my dreams.
My friends at IIT and I have decided to set up a school in Bihar which would help underprivileged students get the best quality education. I want to educate the next generation. It will be a world-class school and we have already started planning details.
Students who aspire to get through IIT must enroll in coaching classes. I have personally seen people being very supportive. Many are ready to help you if you have the caliber, you just need the right guidance. Students send me texts that they want to be like me, but I keep saying that I am no special case. If you trust your capabilities and get support from your guardians, achieving your dreams becomes easier.
IIT is not everything, I have seen many drop-outs achieving way more, many I know run a start-up or a company of their own. But the institute definitely gives you a platform and helps you identify opportunities.
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