CNN-IBN

Patna, May 16: For the last few days, medical students in the country have been up in arms against the Government's proposal of increasing to nearly 27.5 per cent, the quota for members of Other Backward Classes in institutes of higher learning.

Amidst the burning effigies and the numerous, not so passive scuffles between students and the police, here is a story of the son of a rickshaw puller who got through IIT-Kharagpur -- not piggy backing on the reservations, but through sheer hard work.

Anupam Kumar cracked the IIT-JEE exams a year ago, long before the debate on the quota for Other Backward Classes re-started.

Anupam didn't need the reservation crutch, reinstating his mother - Sudha Devi's - belief that the industrious don't need any assistance.

"If the child has the ability to study hard, he or she will get through a good institution," says she.

There may not be an abundance of everything in the house, but the family members are happy nonetheless and aspiring for more success.

Anupam's younger brother is now making a determined effort to follow in his brother's footsteps.

If the reservation for OBCs comes into effect, Abhishek is sure to benefit and the process of admission will be easier for him than it was for Anupam, but the boy says that just like his brother, he too doesn't need the aid.

"The existing reservation is just fine but if the percentage of seats for the OBCs increase, then there will be increased competition in the general category. However, I feel that there is no need for reservation because if my brother can get in with sheer hard work, then so can all other OBCs," says Abhishek.

It's inspiration, guidance and hard work that matters in the end. And Abhishek, like his elder brother, knows reservation is no inspiration. For him the shortest way to success is hard work.