Ranchi: Coming from an impoverished tribal background, he worked as a peon in a Jharkhand university. But now Sushil Tudu has beaten all odds to qualify as a lecturer in the same varsity.

Tudu, in his 30s, is to be a lecturer in the Santhali language in Siddhu and Kanhu University in Dumka, around 400 km from here.

"My selection has fulfilled my long cherished dream. I passed through some tough times in life," Tudu told IANS on phone from Dumka.

He qualified for the post by sitting in the competitive Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) examination. Three tribal lecturers have been appointed in the Santhali language and Tudu is one of them.

Tudu, who hails from the Simildohi village of Pakur district in Jharkhand, had been appointed a peon in Siddu and Kannhu University on compassionate grounds in 2004 after his elder brother died. Tudu lost his father at the young age of eight. He cleared his secondary examination in 1991 and despite financial difficulties continued his studies.

He did his post-graduation in Santhali from Ranchi University and cleared the National Eligibility Test (NET) conducted by the UGC in 2002. NET is a must for one to become a lecturer.

But he was unable to get a job until the peon's job came his way. The highly qualified Tudu said: "It was indeed a difficult decision to work as a peon."

He never gave up and finally Tudu qualified for the lecturer's post.

Victor Tigga, the vice chancellor of Siddhu and Kanhu University, said: "It is a matter of great happiness that a tribal person has qualified for the lecturer's post.

"I came to know that he was working as a peon in my university only after media reports on the matter. We will felicitate him later."

Tudu, however, does not want to attract too much attention right now.

He points out that candidates who did not make it in the JPSC exam have moved the Jharkhand High Court against the appointment of lecturers.

"I will talk to you at length after I get the appointment letter," said Tudu. IANS