Backstory: The boy behind the man

So strong was Arvind Kejriwal’s desire to get into Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), that he did not fill up the admission form of any other engineering college in the country.

So strong was Arvind Kejriwal’s desire to get into Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), that he did not fill up the admission form of any other engineering college in the country. Recalling his early days, his uncle (mama), Ram Babu Aggarwal said Kejriwal was a quiet child. “Arvind’s childhood was simple and he was a sober kid who never used to argue to put his demands forward. He had a spiritual touch from the very beginning,” Aggarwal said.

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“He was so determined and laborious that after aiming for B.Tech from IIT, he never thought about anything else and that is why he did not apply for any other entrance test except the IIT Joint entrance exam,” Aggarwal said.

Kejriwal was born on 16 August, 1968 in village Siwani of Bhiwani district in his family’s ancestral home. His father, Gobind Ram, was also an engineer.

Kejriwal completed his primary education from a village school and moved to a school in the campus of Haryana Agriculture University, Hisar for secondary education. His father, meanwhile, worked as a chief engineer in the Jindal Industries there.

Kiran Malik, a retired teacher, who taught Kejriwal at this school remembers him as a sincere and intelligent student.

“We never received any complaint against him, instead he was famous among all his classmates for his talent and helping nature,” Malik said.

His family members say Kejriwal was influenced by the late Mother Teresa and the Rama Krishna Mission during his days at IIT Kharagpur. He drew inspiration from their teachings to turn into a social activist.