Punjab: 2 fathers, 2 struggles, 1 dream, a better life for their sons
Punjab: This Father’s Day, the stories of two humble fathers from Ludhiana—Rashpal Singh and Amarjit Singh—are vivid examples of how silent sacrifice can shape extraordinary futures. With limited means but boundless determination, the two men stood like unshakable pillars behind their sons Mehtab Singh and Arshpreet Singh to help them overcome obstacles and clear India’s toughest engineering exams—JEE Mains and JEE Advanced.
A farmer’s son with an IIT dream
Mehtaab Singh of Noorpur Bet village is the shining star of the 2023-25 batch of Meritorious School. Son of small farmer Rashpal Singh and homemaker Sarabjit Kaur, Mehtab’s journey was not easy. With an annual family income of less than Rs 1 lakh, even meeting daily household expenses was a challenge, but the brilliant student took it upon himself to make his mark. He credits his success in JEE Mains and Advanced to his teachers and parents, who supported him unconditionally despite their own struggles. Rashpal Singh toiled in the scorching sun in his fields, so as not to miss a single need of Mehtab. While other children went to expensive coaching classes, Mehtab relied on the Punjab government’s summer camp in Mohali for JEE Advanced coaching and made the most of it!
Arshpreet changed his fortunes
Amarjit Singh, who lives in a modest corner of Ludhiana, works as a tyre repairer at his roadside puncture shop – a job that earns him just Rs 90,000 annually. But on Father’s Day, his heart swells with pride when he learns that his son Arshpreet Singh has scored 90.85 percentile in JEE Mains without attending any private coaching classes. Arshpreet’s father’s tired hands and his mother’s silent strength are the support of the family. He also has a younger brother, who is a Class XI student. “He would return from the shop tired, with oily hands, but would never let me down or feel discouraged,” Arshpreet said about his father. “He would always say – keep studying, I will take care of the rest,” Arshpreet added.
Salute to fathers
This Father’s Day, Ludhiana bows its head in honour of fathers who don’t wear caps but carry the burden of their family’s dreams on their shoulders. Be it in the fields of Nurpur Bet or at the tyre shop in Ludhiana, the love and hard work of fathers like Rashpal and Amarjeet remind us that behind every child’s success is a man who silently fights a thousand battles. For Mehtab and Arshpreet, success is not just about passing an exam – it’s about honouring the sacrifices that made it possible.
