Coal Cleaner’s Viral Smile Leads To Class X Success

Arun Kumar had to leave school when he was 10 because his family was very poor.

He began working as a cleaner on a coal lorry.

One day, someone recorded him laughing while drinking tea.

The video spread widely online, making Arun famous.

Arun could not read the comments because he had forgotten much of what he learned in school.

His brother-in-law Nehru helped him enroll in an Open School program.

Nehru taught him inside the lorry during their journeys.

Arun studied with light from the lorry’s headlights and passed his Class X exams.

He hopes support from the government or civil society will help his family build a better life.