Ranjith Ramachandran Panathur’s journey from working as a night watchman to teaching at IIM Ranchi is an inspiring account of persistence. His story shows how education can open possibilities even when financial hardship makes continuing it difficult.
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| Ranjith Ramachandran |
Growing Up with Financial Hardship
Ranjith grew up in a modest household in the hilly region of Kerala. His father worked as a tailor, while his mother took daily-wage work under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. Their earnings supported a family struggling to make ends meet.
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| House of Ranjith Ramachandran |
The house where he grew up had a tarpaulin covering its roof. Keeping monsoon rain from seeping inside was a recurring challenge. Although he did well in higher secondary school, his family could not easily afford a college education, and he considered leaving his studies.
A security job gave him a way to continue. He attended college during the day and worked as a watchman at a BSNL telephone exchange at night, using his wages to meet his expenses.
From Rajapuram to IIT Madras
Ranjith completed his economics degree at St. Pius X College in Rajapuram and then pursued postgraduate studies at the Central University of Kerala. The people, ideas and experiences he encountered there widened his sense of the world beyond Kasaragod and helped him move towards doctoral study at IIT Madras.
Yet reaching a leading institution did not make every difficulty disappear. Surrounded by students from varied backgrounds, he felt isolated and, at one stage, considered leaving his PhD programme. His guide, Dr Subhash, encouraged him to face those feelings with confidence rather than give up.
With sustained work and support, he completed his doctorate. That part of his story matters as much as the final appointment: self-doubt can accompany progress, and encouragement can help someone keep going.
A New Chapter at IIM Ranchi
After a brief period of about two months as an assistant professor at Christ University, he moved to IIM Ranchi, fulfilling an important ambition described in this 2021 account.
Ranjith did not allow his difficult circumstances to define the limits of his future. His journey reflects determination, hard work and the value of educational opportunity. It also reminds me that a little support at the right moment can help someone turn persistence into possibility.