JNU Security Guard Cracks University's Entrance Exam, Will Study Russian Language

The 34-year-old Ramjal Meena has been guarding the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus for four years. Now he is going enrol in the university as a student. Meena, a security guard from Rajasthan has cracked the university's entrance examination and 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 ¡ª teachers and students ¡ª encouraged me; now they congratulate me. I feel like I have become famous overnight,¡± Hindustan Times spoke to Meena.

Ramjal Meena, Picture Courtesy: Youtube

Though Meena had gone to the government school in his village Bhajera, the son of a daily wager had to discontinue his education as he had to help his father to make the ends meet. He also tell the college was far from his village.

¡°The nearest college was 28-30 km away. Moreover, I had to work to help my father too,¡± he said.

But Meena didn¡¯t leave studies and kept pursuing education from distance learning. Last year, he graduated from Rajasthan University in Political Science, Hindi and History through distance learning.

JNU Vice-chancellor, M Jagadesh Kumar was also ecstatic for Meena¡¯s achievement, ¡°We have always encouraged students from diverse backgrounds. We nurture them by providing them critical thinking ability.¡±

The father of three daughters, Meena 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 and prepared for the exam between and after working hours.

¡°I follow newspapers through apps on my phone. Besides, students also helped me get PDF notes.¡±

Meena chose 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.

Ramjal Meena with his family, Picture Courtesy: Navbharat Times

But Meena has problems ahead and he is ready to take on them, ¡°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.

His colleagues are not only happy about what he achieved, but they are also proud of him. ¡°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.

Stationed at the campus at his duty as a security guard, Meena also talks about JNU 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.¡±