Ramjal Meena, a native of Karauli in Rajasthan, has always dreamt of serving his country as a civil servant. He had recently made headlines as 'the security guard who cracked JNU' but this is not his in college.
Ramjal has a BA degree in Hindi, History and Political Science from Rajasthan University, which he cleared as a non-collegiate scholar and is also pursuing his Masters in Political Science currently. "I have cleared the first year of my post-graduation course from Rajasthan University. I had always wanted to learn other languages and took up this opportunity to study Russian," said the 34-year-old. "I have always been attracted to civil services. I like both the IAS and IPS," he added. Ramjal is now on his way back home to get all his document as the university has given him an extension for submitting his academic documents till August 14.
A first-generation learner, Ramjal was compelled to give up education after he graduated high school owing to family emergencies. "We were very poor and I had to help my father earn for the family. He did not earn much as a daily wage labourer. My sister's marriage was also pending — all of this led me to discontinue my studies," added Ramjal, who wants to learn more about other cultures and travel the world someday. But he clarified that this had nothing to do with him opting to study Russian. "I applied for it because I felt like it. I wanted to study this language," he said.
"I want my kids to be educated as well. I got them admitted to an English medium school here in Delhi once we moved. Shortly after, I took up a job at JNU. I figured that they will never get this exposure and the quality of education in our village. We now live in Munirka," said Ramjal, adding that the professors and students have encouraged him to study and no one has asked questions about why a security guard is studying so hard.
