Ranchi, April 18: Standing in the corridor in a blue bush shirt and a bag slung over his shoulder, Sushil Tuddu looked like any other earnest student. So when he walked into the office of the Ranchi University assistant registrar S.S. Akhtar on Saturday afternoon, the busy officer barely cast a glance at the soft-spoken but slightly pensive young Santhal.

But minutes into Sushil?s story, Akhtar could not take his eyes off the 28-year-old.

He had decided to give up the Junior Research Fellowship, Sushil told Akhtar, because he had a job. The research scholar was now a peon at the Sidhu Kanhu University but still wanted to continue his research in Santhali language and would be grateful if the university allowed him to do so.

No rancour or bitterness crept into his voice as he told the officer of his decision. A stunned silence followed during which Sushil told Akhtar that he had also cleared the National Eligibility Test (NET) ? both qualify him for a teaching post in any university in the country. And surely his academic record proved that the youth from Pakur was cut out for the job.

Sushil graduated in Santhal language with 64 per cent marks and went on to do his masters in Santhal from the department of tribal and regional languages, Ranchi University. He kept up his record, clearing the tests with 63 per cent marks.

As a junior research fellow, Sushil is entitled to a stipend of Rs 8,000 a month.

As a peon in a university where he should have been teaching, he will earn around Rs 3,000 a month. Sushil counters, ?But at least I will get the payment regularly. I got my stipend after a year-and-a-half and I was lucky. Some of my friends have not been paid for four years or so...? But does he have to abandon academics?

Sushil replied with a quiet resignation: ? No one helps a poor man. Being a JRF or a NET qualifier does not guarantee me a job. When my brother told me about the vacancies in grade IV(peon) posts in Sidhu Kanu university, I did not hesitate a bit. At least it assures me of some security,? Tuddu said.

Fortune?s many twists seems to have left this young man unfazed. He even worked as a domestic help in the house of late Amar Kumar Singh, former vice-chancellor of Ranchi University and Sidhu Kanu University.

He refuses to consider this job as the end of the world. University officials are also eager that the bright student does not give up academics. ?I shall try and balance my research with my job so that I get my Ph.D. I?ll also apply for lecturers? post when universities advertise,? he promised.