Failed Class 11, Now at IIT Roorkee: Mumbai Panipuri Seller’s Son Shares Why You Shouldn’t Let Failure Define You
Failed Class 11, Now at IIT Roorkee: Mumbai Panipuri Seller’s Son Shares Why You Shouldn’t Let Failure Define You
Not every journey to success starts with privilege and perfect grades. For 19-year-old Harsh Gupta from Kalyan, Maharashtra, the road to the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee was paved with setbacks, self-belief, and the unwavering support of his family.
Harsh failed his Class 11 exams—a moment that could have ended his academic ambitions. Instead, it became the spark that pushed him to fight harder for his dreams. Backed by his father Santosh Gupta, who sells panipuri for a living, Harsh made the bold move to Kota, Rajasthan—the coaching hub known for shaping India’s top engineering aspirants.
“After failing Class 11, I decided to go to Kota. My family supported me… I always dreamt of clearing IIT and getting into IIT Mumbai or Roorkee,” Harsh shared.
In Kota, his routine became a disciplined grind: 10–12 hours of classes and self-study each day. The hard work paid off—he cleared Class 12, scored an impressive 98.59% in JEE-Mains, and qualified for JEE-Advanced.
Despite missing out on his first-choice college initially, Harsh refused to give up. “My message to other aspirants is: don’t let failure define you,” he said. “I never gave up, even after failing in Class 11. I am the first IITian in my family and my school.”
Through perseverance and a second attempt, Harsh secured a seat at IIT Roorkee, turning his family’s sacrifices into success.
The journey was far from easy. Harsh recalled being doubted because of his background. “They used to say a panipuri vendor’s son can’t crack IIT,” he said. But he chose to stay focused: “I didn’t pay much heed. I worked hard,” he added, expressing gratitude for those who supported him.
One of his biggest pillars of strength was his father. “He couldn’t study, but he always told me to chase my dreams,” Harsh remembered.
Santosh Gupta, who supported his son’s education by dipping into personal savings, remains determined to help all his children pursue higher education. “I may be a panipuri vendor, but I’ll go to any extent for my children’s dreams,” he said.
Now, with IIT Roorkee on his resume, Harsh has set his sights on the civil services, hoping to serve the country and inspire others.
Harsh Gupta’s story is more than a tale of academic success—it’s a reminder that failure isn’t the end, but often the beginning of something greater. From a modest food stall in Mumbai’s suburbs to one of India’s most prestigious engineering institutes, his journey proves that persistence, family support, and self-belief can turn even the hardest setbacks into stepping stones.
