Bharat Kumar, who grew up in Charoda in Chhattisgarh and helped his mother sell tea and idlis, went on to study engineering at IIT (ISM) Dhanbad and later became part of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) team associated with Chandrayaan-3. His journey from financial hardship to India’s lunar mission has been widely reported as an example of determination and the importance of educational support.
Bharat Kumar’s family faced serious financial difficulties while he was growing up. His father reportedly worked as a security guard at a bank, while his mother sold tea and idlis near the railway line in Charoda. Bharat helped his mother by washing plates and serving customers while continuing his education. His story was reported by Navbharat Times in August 2023, following the successful Chandrayaan-3 landing.
He studied at Kendriya Vidyalaya in Charoda. During Class 9, financial difficulties reportedly put his schooling at risk because his family could not afford the fees. The school management waived his fees, while teachers helped with the cost of books and notebooks, allowing him to continue his studies.
Bharat subsequently secured admission to IIT (ISM) Dhanbad for engineering. According to accounts published about his journey, he again faced financial difficulties during his higher education. Support from Raipur-based entrepreneur Arun Bagh and the Jindal Group helped him continue his studies. He later achieved outstanding academic results, reportedly earning a gold medal after securing around 98 per cent marks.
During the seventh semester of his engineering course, Bharat was reportedly selected by ISRO through campus recruitment. He subsequently worked as an engineer associated with the Chandrayaan-3 mission. An independent profile published in 2023 described him as one of the young engineers involved in the mission and highlighted his journey from a low-income background to India’s space programme.
Chandrayaan-3 successfully landed on the Moon in August 2023, making India the first country to achieve a soft landing in the lunar south polar region. Bharat Kumar’s story has since circulated widely as an example of how educational institutions, teachers and financial support can help talented students overcome economic barriers.
