Alakh Pandey visits Mumbai Slum to congratulate Abhishek Sujit Sharma for cracking IIT; Watch Viral Video
In a heartfelt video by Physics Wallah, Founder Alakh Pandey shared a touching moment from his recent visit to a Mumbai slum. He visited to congratulate Abhishek Sujit Sharma, a young boy who cracked the IIT entrance exam and secured admission to IIT Delhi. In the video, Alakh Pandey said, “ye beta hai hamara aur ab ye IIT Delhi jaa raha hai” (He is like my son, and I am so proud that he is going to IIT Delhi for further studies). Abhishek, who lives in Thane’s Lokmanya Tilak Nagar slum, secured an All India Rank (AIR) of 2456 with 199 marks and an OBC NCL rank of 415. He is the first IITian from his slum.
<Instagram Video 1: From Mumbai Slum to IIT>
The above video shows Alakh Pandey visiting Abhishek’s home, where he was introduced to his family of four members. Abhishek’s father works as a labourer in a steel fabrication company, and he lives with his mother and younger sister in a small rented room with a kitchen in Harad Chawl, paying 3k per month. The neighbourhood where he lives is plagued by issues like robbery, substance abuse, and general lawlessness, making it far from supportive of education. Despite these challenges, Abhishek remained focused on his studies, distancing himself from peers involved in illegal activities. The video went viral on Instagram and has received 6 million views and 517K likes.
His father shared how living there was a challenge, noting that even necessities like using a personal washroom were unavailable. Abhishek recalled how his parents slept on the floor so that he and his sister could sleep on the bed. Witnessing his parents’ sacrifices inspired Abhishek to seek a way out of that place through education. To support Abhishek further, Alakh Pandey awarded him a scholarship of 6 lakhs so that financial constraints would never hinder his educational pursuits.
From a young age, Abhishek dreamed of becoming a scientist and making a mark in physics. His journey turned positive when he discovered Physics Wallah’s online preparation courses. Abhishek got a chance because of the affordability of PW online batches. Despite the challenges of limited resources, Abhishek relentlessly prepared for the examination. When his mobile data pack would run out, he had to rely on a neighbour’s hotspot from the terrace to complete his lessons. Initially enrolling to prepare for Mains, Abhishek gained confidence for JEE Advanced due to the excellent faculty of Physics Wallah. He studied from the online classes of PW’s Arjuna and Lakshya batches.
<Instagram Video 3: Abhishek’s mother shares his success journey>
In another video by Physics Wallah, Abhishek’s mother shares his journey of studying through difficulties. She described how he dedicated day and night to his preparation. She also mentioned that when his internet went out, he used to study on the terrace using a neighbour’s Wi-Fi. After months of hard work and dedication, Abhishek cracked the JEE exam and secured admission to IIT Delhi, becoming the first person from his community to achieve this prestigious milestone. The video received appreciation from lakhs of people and garnered 8.1M views and 693K likes on Instagram.
To celebrate Abhishek’s achievement, Alakh Pandey visited his home and had lunch with his family. He was deeply moved by the dedication and vision of Abhishek and his family. He assured them that money would not be a challenge for them from now on and that he and the Physics Wallah team would support, guide, and be a constant presence in Abhishek’s journey. Alakh Pandey is known as a cheerleader and a messiah for his students when they need him the most. Recently, he has been seen fighting the NEET battle in the Supreme Court to ensure fairness and justice for his students.