- From Failures to Mastery Over 81 Subjects, Dr. Singh Emerges as a Global Academic Phenomenon
Dr. Laxman Singh issued a rare kind of academic challenge to the global intellectual community: “In the field of humanities, no one on Earth can match my knowledge. I am ready to be tested against anyone, anywhere.”
Bold words, certainly—but this isn’t empty boasting. This is a statement backed by an unparalleled academic journey that has defied all odds and rewritten the rules of intellectual perseverance.
Singh, a native of Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, and the son of ordinary middle-class parents, has earned the distinction of clearing India’s University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test (UGC NET) in 13 separate subjects, the highest known record in the exam’s history. His fields of triumph range from Archaeology, Political Science, and Sociology to Dance, Drama, Indian Culture, Comparative Religion, and lesser-explored disciplines like Arab Culture and Islamic Studies.
In an academic world defined by specialization, Singh stands as a walking encyclopedia of human knowledge. His self-study efforts have led him to claim mastery over 81 subjects—a number so staggering that it seems almost mythic. And yet, every piece of his story is verifiable, documented, and resonating with an undercurrent of raw determination.
Far from being a child prodigy or a star student, Singh’s early academic record was riddled with failure. He failed in Class IV, then twice in Class IX, and by the time he finally passed his high school exams as a private student, most had already given up on him. But Singh had not given up on himself.
Switching universities three times and failing repeatedly in college, he once scraped through his undergraduate degree with a mere 39%. He even failed in History—the very subject he would later master deeply through years of rigorous self-study.
Despite repeated academic setbacks, including dropping out of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) twice—first from Chinese Honors and then from Spanish Honors—Singh never let academic structures define his curiosity. Instead, he turned to books. All books. Any books. His thirst for learning was not confined by syllabi or timetables. It was uncontainable.
In 2004, he topped JNU’s entrance for a master’s in Arts & Aesthetics. After that, he completed his M.Phil and PhD from Jamia Millia Islamia, focusing his doctoral research on Dalit art in Nepal—a subject so obscure that it required him to travel to all 58 districts of Nepal by motorcycle for fieldwork.
Dr. Singh’s academic milestones are not just numerous—they are often unprecedented.
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UGC NET Cleared in 13 Subjects
This includes fields as diverse as Drama, Gandhi and Peace Studies, Jain Studies, Buddhist Studies, Sociology, Archaeology, and more. Except for one exam, Singh claims he never needed formal preparation. -
33 JNU Entrance Exams Cleared
Singh has cleared 33 separate entrance exams for JNU across master’s, M.Phil, and PhD programs, not to enroll in every one, but simply to test the extent of his understanding. -
Self-Mastery Over 81 Subjects
Singh maintains a detailed list of 81 humanities disciplines which he has explored through reading thousands of books, theses, and religious scriptures from every tradition—Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Jainism, Zoroastrianism, and even Sabaism.
In 2022, Singh made a bold decision: he resigned from a secure government job at the Central Public Works Department, where he worked as a translator. His reason? He wanted to learn Persian and study Iranian culture firsthand.
This led him to Qom, Iran, where he conducted extensive field research on Sufism, Sabaism, Islamic mysticism, and Zoroastrianism. His article on Parsi religion was even published in Parsiana, a premier international journal of Parsi studies.
While in Iran, Singh made a groundbreaking anthropological discovery: India’s Jogi community had migrated to Iran centuries ago. He traced their cultural legacy through music and oral traditions, connecting them to Central Asian spiritual lineages. This work later earned him a seminar invitation from the Gorakhnath Peeth in Gorakhpur—a spiritual center of immense historical importance.
But Singh’s life is not lived solely in books or libraries.
In 2018, he joined the Raid de Himalaya, one of the world’s toughest motorcycle rallies. With zero motorsport experience and a basic Hero Xtreme bike, he managed to outperform professional riders on a stage—finishing 4th in the 200cc category, despite two tire punctures. Had his bike held up, Singh might have finished second.
In another arena, Singh won JNU’s gold medal in powerlifting, proving he is as physically determined as he is intellectually unstoppable
Singh’s legacy isn’t limited to personal achievements. He has helped hundreds of students crack entrance exams for JNU, Jamia Millia Islamia, and other elite universities.
He urges students not to study merely for marks or jobs, but for self-development. “Textbooks are not just exam tools. They are tools of transformation,” he said at the Delhi press conference.
He openly criticizes the current education system’s focus on rote memorization and ranks, instead advocating for a holistic, curiosity-driven approach.
Singh is also a seasoned RTI activist and social campaigner, especially for marginalized communities.
In 2022, his efforts under the banner “Indians for Sexual Liberties” contributed to the Supreme Court’s decriminalization of sex work in Delhi’s red-light areas. Drawing from his studies in religion, ethics, and law, Singh argued that stigmatizing sex work violated constitutional and humanitarian principles.
Recently, Singh co-produced a Hollywood feature film titled “Sweatpants”, focusing on the struggles of undocumented Indian immigrants in the USA. His role in the project underscores the breadth of his interests—from archaeology and powerlifting to filmmaking and immigration policy.
At his press conference in Delhi, Singh made several key announcements:
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He plans to clear the UGC NET in 25 more subjects to take his total to 38.
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He formally challenged any scholar in the world to test their knowledge against his across his 81 listed subjects.
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He emphasized the importance of democratizing knowledge, calling for educational reforms to reward deep study rather than surface-level performance.
His list of subjects includes Anthropology, Cultural Studies, Aesthetics, Linguistics, Comparative Religion, Philosophy, Ethics, Human Rights, Global History, South Asian Studies, Manuscriptology, and more—most of which he has mastered without formal teaching.
Born on June 6, 1978, in Muzaffarnagar, Singh grew up in a modest household with limited access to educational resources. But limitations only sharpened his curiosity. He taught himself to speak and read in multiple languages, conducted original sociological fieldwork, and redefined what a self-taught scholar could achieve.
Despite his monumental academic feats, Singh remains deeply grounded and humble. “I’m not interested in boasting. I’m interested in encouraging others to find the joy of true learning,” he said.
He often sleeps for just four hours a night, spending the rest of his time reading, writing, and mentoring. According to him, the only real luxury he enjoys is a second-hand book or a new idea.
In an age where education is increasingly commodified, where AI tools do the thinking, and attention spans are shrinking, Dr. Laxman Singh stands as a beacon of intellectual perseverance and human potential. His life story is a compelling reminder that even the most unpromising student can rise to global excellence—provided they never give up.
His challenge to the world isn’t arrogance. It’s a call to reclaim the true spirit of learning—rooted not in degrees or credentials, but in curiosity, struggle, and a hunger for wisdom.
And while the world may or may not accept his challenge, one thing is clear:
Laxman Singh is already in a league of his own.
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Date of Birth: June 6, 1978
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Hometown: Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, India
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UGC NET Subjects Cleared: 13 (and counting)
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JNU Entrance Exams Cleared: 33
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Subjects Mastered via Self-Study: 81
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PhD: Political Art in India & Nepal (Jamia Millia Islamia, 2016)
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Notable Research Areas: Dalit art, Sufism, Jogis in Central Asia, Comparative Religion
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Languages Known: Hindi, English, Persian, Spanish (studied), Chinese (briefly)
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Activism: RTI, sex workers’ rights, educational reform
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Athletic Achievements: Gold medalist in powerlifting; top-4 finisher in Raid de Himalaya
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Other Roles: Mentor, translator, filmmaker, motorcyclist, advocate
Whether or not the global academic community rises to Singh’s challenge, his journey is already a masterclass in self-made brilliance. In a time when knowledge is often measured in bytes, degrees, or job titles, Dr. Laxman Singh reminds us that true scholarship is about fire—an undying passion to know, to grow, and to serve society through understanding.
