Rahul Mondal: From Murshidabad Fields to Presidency University

🎓 Student Profile

Name: Rahul Mondal State: West Bengal District: Murshidabad School: Murshidabad Government High School CUET Score: 768/800 AIR Rank: 289 Target College: Presidency University, Kolkata (Economics Honors) Subjects: Economics, Political Science, History, English

📝 Interview Transcript

SATHEE Team: Rahul, congratulations on your outstanding achievement! Tell us about your journey from Murshidabad to Presidency University.

Rahul Mondal: Thank you! My journey has been full of challenges but also full of hope. I come from a family of farmers in a small village near Murshidabad. My father owns a small piece of land where we grow rice and jute. I’m the first in my family to even complete 12th grade, let alone think about university education.

SATHEE Team: What inspired you to choose Economics as your field of study?

Rahul Mondal: Growing up, I saw the economic struggles of farming families in our village. I wanted to understand why farmers remain poor despite working so hard. When I studied Economics in Class 11, I found answers to many questions. I realized that understanding economics could help me find solutions to the problems I saw around me every day.

SATHEE Team: What were your biggest challenges during preparation?

Rahul Mondal: There were many challenges:

1. Financial Constraints: We couldn’t afford coaching or even proper study materials
2. Language Barrier: Our school taught in Bengali medium, but CUET is in English
3. Resource Scarcity: No internet connection at home, had to travel 10km for internet
4. Family Responsibilities: Had to help with farming work during peak seasons
5. Lack of Guidance: No one in my family or village had experience with competitive exams

📚 Innovative Study Strategy

Overcoming Financial Constraints: “I discovered SATHEE’s free resources through a teacher. It was a blessing! I used their mobile app which worked offline. I would go to the local cyber cafe once a week to download study materials and mock tests.”

Language Adaptation: “English was my biggest weakness. I started with basic grammar books from the school library. I would read English newspapers and write summaries in Bengali, then translate them back to English. It took 6 months, but I improved significantly.”

Daily Schedule (Balancing Studies and Farm Work):

• 4:00 AM - 6:00 AM: Economics study (best concentration time)
• 6:00 AM - 7:00 AM: Help with morning farm work
• 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM: School
• 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Farm work during peak seasons
• 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM: Study (English, Political Science, History)
• 9:00 PM - 10:00 PM: Revision and planning

🎯 Subject-wise Mastery

Economics (195/200): “Economics became my strength because I related every concept to real life:

• Microeconomics: Understood through our village market dynamics
• Macroeconomics: Learned by following economic policies affecting agriculture
• Statistics: Practiced with crop yield data from our area
• Indian Economy: Connected to policies affecting farmers”

Political Science (192/200): “I studied Political Science by:

• Reading newspapers daily to understand current political developments
• Discussing politics with elders in our village
• Making timelines of important political events
• Connecting theory to real political scenarios”

History (191/200): “History was interesting:

• Focused on Indian history and its economic implications
• Made chronological charts for better understanding
• Connected historical events to their economic consequences
• Visited local historical sites during weekends”

English (190/200): “English improvement journey:

• Started with basic grammar and built up gradually
• Read one English article daily and summarized it
• Practiced writing on topics related to economics and politics
• Used dictionary to learn 5 new words daily”

🏆 Key Turning Points

The SATHEE Discovery: “In December 2023, I found SATHEE’s mobile app. It changed everything! Their mock tests showed me where I stood. The video lectures explained difficult concepts in simple language. Most importantly, it was all free!”

Teacher’s Support: “My Economics teacher, Mr. Banerjee, was instrumental. He stayed after school to help me with difficult concepts. He gave me old question papers and guided me on important topics.”

Community Support: “When villagers heard about my preparation, they supported me. Someone gave me an old smartphone, another paid for my cyber cafe fees. Their encouragement kept me going.”

💡 Study Tips for Economically Challenged Students

Rahul’s Success Mantra:

1. Maximize Free Resources: SATHEE, NCERT, YouTube have everything you need
2. Smart Time Management: Study during your most productive hours
3. Practical Learning: Connect theory to real-life situations
4. Community Support: Don’t hesitate to ask for help
5. Consistent Effort: Daily 3-4 hours are better than weekend cramming

Resource Optimization:

• Use school library for books and newspapers
• Form study groups with classmates
• Download study materials when internet is available
• Use smartphone wisely - avoid social media distractions

🎯 Future Goals

“I want to become an economist and work for rural development. My dream is to develop policies that help farmers get fair prices for their produce. I also want to start a free coaching center in my village for students preparing for competitive exams.”

💯 Achievement Highlights

• First student from our village to get into Presidency University
• Highest CUET score in Murshidabad district
• Inspired 20+ students from nearby villages to prepare for CUET
• Featured in local newspaper for academic excellence

📞 Message to Aspirants

“To all students from rural and economically challenged backgrounds - your circumstances don’t define your destiny. I studied with a kerosene lamp during power cuts and walked 10km for internet access. If I can do it, you can too!

My advice:

1. Never give up on your dreams
2. Use free resources like SATHEE effectively
3. Stay consistent even when progress seems slow
4. Believe in yourself - you are capable of great things
5. Help others when you succeed - success is meaningful only when shared”

Connect with Rahul for Mentorship: Request Guidance

More Inspiring Stories: Rural Success Stories

Similar Background Stories: First Generation Students

Rahul Mondal is currently pursuing Economics Honors at Presidency University, Kolkata, and actively mentors CUET aspirants from rural backgrounds through SATHEE’s mentorship program.