Nagpur: For 18 first-generation tribal students from the remote interiors of Gadchiroli and Chandrapur, a visit to the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Nagpur on Monday turned into an inspiring glimpse of possibilities in higher education.The students, brought to the premier management institute by Chandrapur-based NGO Jagrut, belong to the Gond, Madia and Kolam tribal communities. The group included six women, all of whom are set to become the first graduates in their families.Walking through IIM Nagpur’s sprawling campus, smart classrooms and well-stocked library, many of the students said they were experiencing such an academic environment for the first time.“We had never seen such an institute in our lives. Walking into those classrooms and seeing the library felt like a dream,” said Arjun Majji.The highlight of the visit was an interaction with IIM Nagpur Director Bhimaraya Metri, who shared his own journey from a remote village in Maharashtra’s Jath-Atpadi region to heading one of the country’s leading management institutes.Addressing the students, Metri said family background should never become a barrier to education.“Illiterate parents cannot be the reason for you to stay away from education,” he said, recalling that there was not even a secondary school in his village during his childhood. “We studied and worked hard. Today, you have the support and guidance of an organisation like Jagrut. We had no such support.”The interaction became lively when student Pooja Masram asked whether hard work or smart work was more important for success.“There is no substitute for hard work. When hard work begins to yield results, it naturally becomes smart work,” Metri said.The students also attended an introductory session by Prof Shailendra Nigam, who explained IIM Nagpur’s academic programmes and admission process. He sought to dispel the notion that financial constraints prevent deserving students from pursuing management education.Prof Nigam told the students that IIMs offer merit and need-based financial assistance, government scholarships and access to education loans, ensuring that economic background need not become an obstacle for talented aspirants.“Do not think about money and finance. Work hard and make your parents, your village, your tribe and your country proud,” he told the students.The interaction left a deep impression on the visitors, many of whom said Metri’s story of overcoming rural hardship made them believe that they too could aspire to study at premier institutions.Speaking on behalf of the group, Balaji Kalanga said the visit had strengthened their resolve to pursue higher education.“We are inspired by leaders like Metri. If he could achieve so much despite having very limited resources, we realize that we have far better opportunities today and should make the most of them,” he said.
