From IIT to Enlightenment: Baba Abhay Singh’s Lens on the Untold Challenges of Kota Scholars

Kota: Abhay Singh, an alumnus of IIT Bombay with an Aerospace Engineering degree, has emerged as a viral phenomenon on social media after disclosing his transition into a spiritual Baba during the Prayagraj Maha Kumbh. Hailing from Jhajjar in Haryana, Singh shared captivating insights regarding a photography project he undertook in Kota in 2014, illuminating the lives of students in the city renowned for its coaching culture.

In an interview, Abhay Singh reflected on his time in Kota, where he executed a project titled ‘The Last Page of Notebook.’ Throughout his stay, Singh engaged with students, educators, and locals, striving to capture the essence of student existence in Kota. His objective was to delve into the emotional terrain of students and the pressures they encountered.

Singh elaborated that his project metaphorically centered on the last page of a notebook, often the most overlooked aspect of a student’s educational journey. “The principal narrative of life unfolds on the front page, but significant insights are often found on the last page,” Singh conveyed. He emphasized how the last page contains personal annotations, contact numbers, and unexpressed feelings, which in his project, represented the concealed challenges faced by students.

In 2014, Singh publicized his project on social media, featuring a photograph of Kota coaching students as his cover image. On November 27, 2014, he hosted an exhibition titled ‘An Inside Look Into the Lives of Students at Kota’ at IIT Bombay’s Victor Menezes Convention Center. The project was a visual representation that illuminated the rigorous academic atmosphere contributing to Kota’s status as a coaching epicenter for aspiring engineers.

Abhay Singh’s father, Karan Singh, noted that Abhay had a remarkable academic performance, achieving a 731 rank in the JEE and choosing to enroll at IIT Bombay rather than Delhi. Even though he secured a lucrative position in Canada, Abhay’s spiritual pursuits compelled him to return to India. His father disclosed that Abhay, who had distanced himself from familial ties, is now in Haridwar, with the family yearning for his return.