Lucknow: Two students from farming families won gold medals in their disciplines at the Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University (AKTU) convocation, highlighting academic excellence achieved amid limited resources. Samriddhi Kushwaha of Mirzapur, a BTech Electrical Engineering graduate from Rajkiye Engineering College, Sonbhadra, and Adesh Patel of Kanpur, MBA topper from the Institute of Engineering and Technology, Lucknow, were honoured for securing top ranks.Samriddhi, daughter of farmer Chandrabhan Kushwaha and homemaker Manjusha Kushwaha, said her rural background brought hurdles beyond the classroom. “I faced limited access to quality study material, guidance and stable internet, which often made preparation difficult. Despite these challenges, I stayed consistent and worked with dedication,” she said.Adesh, son of farmer Ram Saran Patel, said the MBA programme demanded sustained effort and independent learning. “Managing MBA coursework was not easy, especially coming from a farming background where resources and exposure are limited,” he said, citing pressure to perform and limited guidance for case-based study.
