Successful people don’t settle for anything less. Despite being in any position in their career, they still give everything to reach the final destination. The story of JNU security guard will inspire you in many ways. He may be working as a security guard but he always had the innate urge to perform better and become successful in his career. Never did he think that he would end up being a security guard for the rest of his life.
The 34-year-old Ramjal Meena from Rajasthan with fighting spirit cracked University’s entrance exam. Yes, you read it right! The man who has been guarding the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus for over four years is going enrol in the university as a student and will be learning Russian language. He will now take admission in Bachelor of Arts (BA), Russian (Hons).
“What makes JNU different is that people here do not believe in social hierarchy. Everyone — teachers and students — encouraged me; now they congratulate me. I feel like I have become famous overnight,” Hindustan Times spoke to Meena.
Meena studied in the government school which was far from his village Bhajera. He is the son of a daily wager and unfortunately he had to drop out of school as he had to help his father to make the ends meet.
“The nearest college was 28-30 km away. Moreover, I had to work to help my father too,” he said.
But Meena didn’t give up studies completely as he kept pursuing education via distance learning. It was only last year that he graduated from Rajasthan University in Political Science, Hindi and History.
JNU Vice-chancellor, M Jagadesh Kumar was also thrilled for Meena’s achievement, “We have always encouraged students from diverse backgrounds. We nurture them by providing them critical thinking ability.”
Meena, who is the father of three daughters lives in one-room-set in Munirka with family as he tells how he prepared for the JNU entrance exam.
“Though I got really busy addressing my family’s financial issues, the regret of not joining a regular college was always there. But when I saw the academic environment here, the dream was revived,” he said.
Meena worked hard to prepare for the exam between and after working hours. It was difficult but Meena’s fighting spirit helped him to defy all the challenges.
“I follow newspapers through apps on my phone. Besides, students also helped me get PDF notes.”
Meena opted foreign language as he wants to see places. “I have heard those who study foreign languages get to visit foreign countries. Moreover, I want to try my luck in civil services,” he said.
Being the sole bread winner of the family and having so many problems ahead, Meena is ready to face it on his own. “I am the sole earner and my wife is concerned about money. There is a rule that one cannot pursue regular education with work at JNU. I will request for night shifts,” said Meena. Meena earns Rs 15,000 per month.
Meena’s colleagues are not only ecstatic about what he achieved, but they are also extremely proud of his achievement. They wished him good luck for his future endeavours.
“We are proud of him. But working night shifts with regular college is not possible. We will, however, extend all help possible to him,” Naveen Yadav, JNU chief security officer said.
Positioned at the campus at his duty as a security guard, Meena also talks about the JNY and the “wrong perceptions” about the university. “There are so many rumours about JNU after the February 2016 incident. But it’s not like students only protest; the university has given so many scholars to the country,” Meena said, he further added, “I also want to achieve something after studying.”