The results for the Joint Entrance Examination Advanced (JEE-Adv) were declared yesterday and 18-year-old Chirag Falor from Pune topped by scoring 352 out of 396. Before this, he had secured 100 percentile and an all-India rank of 12 in JEE Main as well. The topper got through the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in March and has been attending online classes between 5:30 pm and 2 am IST and has decided to continue his studies there instead of taking admission at IIT.
India Today quoted him saying, “I studied for JEE for four years, and I didn’t want to waste all this hard work by just not giving the exam. Also, this would be an achievement that sticks to me throughout my life. So, I thought I shouldn’t miss this golden chance to appear for this one last exam in India before I move to the US.”
Hindustan Times quoted him adding, “Less than 5 students get selected for MIT from India while it is around 50 students for IIT. I aspire to become either an astrophysicist or an astronaut and plan to take up Physics as a subject from the second year at MIT.”
#JEEAdvanced topper Chirag Falor to skip studying at IITs, says he has already secured admission at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in US
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 5, 2020
While some people are congratulating him and lauding his decision to attend an Ivy League University, it has also sparked a debate on brain drain on Twitter.
All the best to him!!! If he can contribute back to the country after gaining knowledge in US, it will be great!! Otherwise no worries, others will step up to the task, let him chase his dreams 🙏
— Vishwa Vijayi Bharat (@BharatVijayi) October 5, 2020
It’s a choice amongst various institutions. MIT stands tall among world’s top institutes and no wonder a person of his caliber chose it. India has to raise our institutions to that level in the coming decade.
— Anil Padmanabhan🇮🇳🕉️🚩 (@anilp68) October 6, 2020
Right decision
But after completion of education work in India for betterment.— Sharad Kumar (@sharry9761) October 5, 2020
IIT be like… pic.twitter.com/F1VlF9PFJp
— AliAsgar (@aliasgerashrafi) October 5, 2020
Congrats. You can't force someone to study in/work for your nation unless you produce world class institutions giving entry based on pure merit alone…… https://t.co/zPvuxRJxkw
— KLAATU🇮🇳 (@Klaatu____) October 6, 2020
The academic brain drain
Imagine if such talented people stay and work for India https://t.co/12nm64zMkL— Arpit Mutha (@ArpitMutha17) October 5, 2020
This is so sad because IIT is an institution that is very prestigious with very limited seats and holds a large value for a lot of students. Bright students like these just take away seats which could have been offered to a student who values it!#IIT https://t.co/PrEYfwugU2
— Mitali Goel (@MitaliGoel8) October 5, 2020
Desh ka education system dekhlo apna talent abb US me tax bharega aur usse aage le jaega.
— Navin Singh Rajput (@Navinrajput45) October 5, 2020
Then why did he sit in exam and took someone elses seat??? Just another topper’s tantrum
— Surya Yadav (@shinenshimmer) October 5, 2020
People are blaming reservation for this. To be clear, there is nothing to blame. Who would choose IIT over MIT if they have the required resources?
— Ani (@Minaminotaur) October 5, 2020
We wish Chirag all the very best for his future endeavours!