First-generation tribal students from Gadchiroli, Chandrapur find inspiration at IIM Nagpur Eighteen first-generation tribal students from the remote regions of Gadchiroli and Chandrapur visited the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Nagpur, gaining a firsthand look at the opportunities higher education can offer. Organized by the Chandrapur-based NGO Jagrut, the group included six women who are set to become the first graduates in their families. The students, representing the Gond, Madia, and Kolam tribal communities, were given a tour of IIM Nagpur’s campus, classrooms, and library, an experience many described as transformative. Arjun Majji, one of the students, expressed awe at the academic environment, stating, “We had never seen such an institute in our lives. Walking into those classrooms and seeing the library felt like a dream.” The visit highlighted the stark contrast between their rural upbringing and the resources available at a premier management institute. The students engaged in a meaningful dialogue with IIM Nagpur Director Bhimaraya Metri, who shared his own journey from a remote village in Maharashtra’s Jath-Atpadi region to leading one of India’s top management institutes. Metri emphasized that family background should never limit educational aspirations, recounting how his own village lacked even a secondary school during his childhood. “Illiterate parents cannot be the reason for you to stay away from education,” he told the students. “We studied and worked hard. Today, you have the support and guidance of an organisation like Jagrut. We had no such support.” The interaction took an engaging turn when student Pooja Masram asked whether hard work or smart work was more critical for success. Metri responded, “There is no substitute for hard work.#iim_nagpur #jagrut #arjun_majji #bhimaraya_metri #shailendra_nigam
