Pune’s IIT Siblings : Stories of Victory and Parents’ Joy
Amit Singh
Pune, 24th July 2023: Imagine the pulse of pride that resonates through a family when they learn that their child has been accepted into the esteemed Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT), the zenith of academic accomplishment for any aspiring engineer. Now magnify that joy, that radiant glow of achievement, when not just one but two siblings clear JEE Advanced. These successful students shine bright, boosting not only their family’s pride but also inspiring their friends, their community, and even beyond. Their success sparks a powerful ripple effect, positively transforming society in the process.
Having an elder sibling who has already undergone the challenging JEE preparation journey can make the process a bit easier. “It’s common for students to face disappointments while preparing for JEE. These disappointments can stem from low marks in practice tests, difficulty understanding tough concepts, or an inability to solve a few questions. Such disappointments can shake their confidence, even though they’re told to expect this. But if an elder brother or sister has already battled and bested the JEE, they’ve been through this stage. They can share their experience and lessons with their younger sibling. This guidance from a sibling can act like a motivational lighthouse, giving a real view of the hurdles and victories of JEE preparation,” shares Mr Lalit Kumar, the founder of Prime Academy. Lalit Kumar, an IIT Bombay graduate, has guided over 3000 IIT aspirants to success in his illustrious 21-year teaching career.
The road to preparing for the JEE exam is like a roller coaster, filled with ups and downs. Those who know it best are the students and their families. Each one has their own unique story, full of obstacles to get past and wins to celebrate. One inspiring story is that of the Gaikwad family. Mr. Gaikwad recounts their transformative experience, “Several renowned JEE coaching classes in Pune declared my elder son, Sangram Gaikwad, unfit for JEE preparation and denied him admission. Undeterred by this setback, we enrolled him for JEE preparation at Prime Academy. The initial stages of his journey were challenging as he struggled to grasp the concepts. At one point he thought of quitting the preparation. I am thankful to the supportive and dedicated faculty of Prime Academy who came to his rescue. They helped him fine tune his study methodology as per his strengths and weakness and more importantly boosted his moral. Gradually he started picking up and learnt from his mistakes. Words fail to express the immense joy we experienced when Sangram secured his spot at an IIT. His journey didn’t end there; he further showcased his brilliance by graduating as the top student of the Computer Science batch from IIT. My younger son, Abhay Gaikwad, had an early exposure to this academic journey through Sangram, and he comfortably followed in his brother’s footsteps, achieving a stellar performance in JEE with an All India Rank of 204. Our deepest appreciation goes out to Lalit Kumar sir and the entire team at Prime Academy. Not only are they experts in their field, but they also possess a unique strength of consistency. The same faculty team stays associated with students throughout the course, which is a significant advantage for the students.”
The brigade of IITian faculty at Prime Academy mentored more than 50 such siblings, who cracked the most challenging exam in the nation, JEE Advanced. Just this year, in 2023, after the JEE Advanced results were announced, ten more siblings joined this proud list.
However, it’s essential to acknowledge that this success isn’t solely a product of the student’s individual efforts or sibling guidance. Often, parents’ persistent dedication and support play a pivotal role in their children’s journey. The story of the Sachdeva family is a powerful illustration of this. The late Mr Sachdeva displayed remarkable dedication to his children’s education, going as far as to take early retirement so that he could devote himself entirely to supporting his sons’ academic journeys. “He would accompany his son to my house for study sessions and patiently wait until we finished. It was an honour to have the opportunity to collaborate closely with such a committed parent and his children,” reminisces Lalit Kumar, who mentored both of Mr Sachdeva’s sons. Sushant Sachdeva, the elder of the two, astoundingly emerged as the only student from Pune to secure the All India Rank 1 in IIT JEE. Further, he added another feather to his cap by receiving the prestigious President’s Gold Medal after completing his B. Tech in Computer Science from IIT Bombay. Following in his brother’s footsteps, Prashant Sachdeva, too, showed exceptional performance by securing a high AIR 75 in JEE, later graduating in Computer Science from the same prestigious institute, IIT Bombay.
The Chasmai brothers, Huzefa and Mustafa, have recently brought honour to Pune by graduating from prestigious institutions – IIT Delhi and IIT Bombay, both in Computer Science. Gaining early insights from his elder brother, Mustafa started his IIT journey at a tender age, enrolling at Prime Academy for JEE preparation in 8th grade. His dedication and aptitude were evident when he became the sole representative from Pune in his batch to be selected for the International Physics Olympiad camp. Subsequently, Mustafa made his mark as one of the leading rank holders from Maharashtra in the IIT JEE, securing an impressive All India Rank of 91.
One unique aspect of Prime Academy is the lasting consistency of its teaching staff. The same teachers have been there for over ten years, creating a solid sense of stability and trust between them and the students. This trust helps develop personal guidance for each student based on their needs. It significantly boosts even an average student’s chances of cracking the JEE. Prime Academy faculty team is proud of this sustained unity, and they show it by sharing group photos taken ten years apart, displaying the lasting unity in the team. In the last seven years, among 1595 students, a remarkable 1348 cleared the JEE Mains, and an impressive 567 overcame the rigorous challenge of JEE Advanced.
Getting through competitive exams like JEE and NEET is more than just a personal win. It shows the power of a supporting family and a committed coaching institute. It’s about staying strong, working hard, and believing in yourself. It gives hope and inspiration to others who want to follow in these footsteps. As Prime Academy keeps moving forward, it’s not just teaching students – it’s helping entire families dream big, face difficulties head-on, and achieve their goals.
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