Site icon JFW Just for women

From tea stall to IIT Bombay: Tamil Nadu girl’s journey of grit and dreams

From serving tea in a small village stall to securing admission at one of India’s premier institutes, Yogeshwari Selvam’s story is a powerful testament to perseverance and ambition. A student of a government higher secondary school in Padanthaal near Virudhunagar, Yogeshwari has earned a seat in the aerospace engineering programme at IIT Bombay, after securing a high rank in the JEE (Advanced) examination.

Coming from a modest background, Yogeshwari’s father runs a tea stall while her mother works at a local fireworks unit. Despite severe financial constraints, the family prioritised education, ensuring that Yogeshwari and her two elder brothers could attend college.

Yogeshwari’s interest in aerospace engineering was sparked in Class VII, though she wasn’t seen as a top-performing student at the time. Her determination took shape in Class XII, when she attended ‘Kalloori Kanavu’, a career guidance session under the Tamil Nadu government’s ‘Naan Mudhalvan’ scheme. It was there that she first learned about the JEE exam and the opportunities offered by the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).

Without access to expensive private coaching, Yogeshwari relied entirely on government-backed initiatives for her preparation. She was among 230 students selected from government schools across Tamil Nadu for specialised JEE coaching under the Naan Mudhalvan programme, which aims to support Class 11, 12, and college students in their pursuit of higher education and employment opportunities.

Today, Yogeshwari stands as a shining example of how government support, community encouragement, and individual willpower can transform lives. As she gets ready to start her journey at IIT Bombay, her story is inspiring countless others in rural Tamil Nadu to reach for the stars—literally.