MUMBAI: When Arohi Deshpande secured all India rank (AIR) 77 in JEE (Advanced) 2026 and emerged as the country’s highest-ranked girl candidate, it marked the culmination of a decision her family had taken four years ago: to uproot their lives and move to Kota.The move began in 2022 when Arohi, then a Class 9 student, left Pune for India’s coaching capital. But unlike many teenagers who move alone to chase the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) dream, Arohi arrived with a support system: her parents reorganised careers to move with her, and even her grandmother relocated.“We didn’t want her to spend those crucial years away from family,” said her father, Prasad Deshpande. His work allowed him to operate remotely, enabling him to spend long stretches in Kota.Arohi’s mother, Amita, balanced professional commitments in Gurgaon while ensuring she was largely present in the city. “If she was going to devote four years to this goal, we wanted to be there with her.”The strategy paid off. When the results were declared late at night, the family gathered around the screen.The rank meant that Arohi’s long-held ambition of studying Computer Science at IIT Bombay was now within reach. Yet, her father is careful not to romanticise the Kota experience. “Kota is not for everyone. The city runs on a relentless cycle of classes, tests and preparation. It demands tremendous discipline and energy,” he said.The move came with tradeoffs. “Cities like Pune and Hyderabad offer a more rounded childhood with sports, music and other activities. But we realised Arohi genuinely loves academics. Kota gave her the environment she wanted,” he said.She traces her interest in engineering back to Class 7 when she began exploring Olympiads and studying from higher-grade textbooks.Mentors suggested Kota as the next step.“I was surprised at how quickly my parents agreed,” she said. “Not only did they support the idea, they all decided to move with me.” She credits that decision for helping her navigate the inevitable setbacks that come with preparing for one of India’s toughest examinations.“There were days when I didn’t perform well and felt disappointed. Having my family around made all the difference. They encouraged me and helped me bounce back,” she said. The family has now returned to Hyderabad. The IIT dream stands fulfilled.
