In a modest home in Devendra Nagar, adversity seemed to have dealt a crushing blow to Maninder Kaur Gandhi’s dreams. Yet the young JEE aspirant has scripted an inspiring story of resilience by clearing JEE Main despite surviving life-threatening burn injuries, multiple surgeries and permanent physical disability. In an exclusive interaction with The Hitavada, Maninder recalled the ordeal that nearly derailed her academic aspirations. “There were times when even holding a pen appeared impossible. I had severe pain, repeated surgeries and months away from studies, but I never thought of giving up. I always believed I would return to my books and continue pursuing my dream,” she said. The youngest daughter of a single-parent family secured 89 percentile in JEE Main January 2026 and achieved an All India Rank of 288 in the Persons with Disabilities (PwD) category, opening the doors to admission in premier engineering institutions, including her preferred choice, NIT Rourkela. Her struggle began in May 2025 when a candle accidentally fell on her dress, causing severe burn injuries. Initially admitted to AIIMS Raipur, she was later shifted to D K Super-Speciality Hospital.

 

Complications and infections necessitated major surgeries in June and October 2025. For nearly six months, she remained largely confined to bed, enduring prolonged treatment and rehabilitation. The injuries ultimately left her with 54 per cent physical disability. She is scheduled to undergo a third surgery in August this year. Despite the setback, Maninder resumed preparation in December 2025 after months away from studies. With barely six weeks of focused preparation, she appeared for JEE Main and delivered a remarkable performance. She credited her success to the support of her mother Jasbir Kaur, maternal aunt Sonia Kaur Chhabra, elder sister Manendra Kaur Gandhi and mentors Manish Raj and Saleem Khan, who guided and motivated her throughout the journey. Asked about her future plans, Maninder said she hopes to pursue B.Tech in Artificial Intelligence from NIT Rourkela before specialising further at an international university. “My journey has taught me that no setback is bigger than determination,” she said.