‘Full marks for creativity’: Harsh Goenka applauds college student for paragliding to the exam venue.
‘Full marks for creativity’: Harsh Goenka applauds college student for paragliding to the exam venue.
A first-year student, eager to reach his exam center, decided to paraglide there, a choice that garnered admiration from billionaire Harsh Goenka. According to a report from TOI, the student operated a juice stall at the picturesque Harrison’s Folly Point in Maharashtra. His exam, which had been previously canceled, was rescheduled, but he was unaware of the new date. “While I was at work, I learned about it from my friends,” he mentioned. Realizing that traveling by road would make him late, he opted for a paraglider.
He successfully landed at the exam center just 10 minutes before the test started and was permitted to take the exam. A video of the incident from December 15 recently went viral on social media.
Goenka shared a video of the student launching from the paraglider and commended his enthusiasm and innovative thinking. “A Panchgani student paraglided 15 km to reach his exam on time due to heavy traffic on the roads. 100 marks for creative problem solving! #ExamHacks #OnlyInIndia,” he tweeted.
Harsh Goenka’s comments on the video have sparked a debate online, with some people supporting his praise while others criticize the student’s decision. One user remarked, “Zero for risk management. I don’t see myself engaging in any adventure sport in India. Not anytime soon at least.”
Conversely, another user commended the young man, saying, “A fire in the belly. A strong internal urge to become something. A determination to overcome hurdles and a positive mindset.”
Third user questioned, “Is it affordable for common students?”
A fourth user pointed out, “Lucky him. He should have started a couple of hours early instead of risking the power lines, tree cover, stress, and other hazards. 10 marks for practicality & 90 marks for attention capturing and engagement farming.”
Others were curious about how the student managed to land perfectly at his exam center. One user questioned, “One thing I didn’t understand, how and where he landed. Is he using Google Maps to reach the destination?”
Shiv Sena MP Milind Deora also expressed his thoughts on his X account, stating, “I really love this story! The student’s determination is incredibly inspiring. I wish him much success!”
Govind Yewale, who helped Mahagade in reaching the venue, mentioned, “I also joined Samarth in the spotlight and gave interviews. Samarth is very dedicated. I helped him with the hope that he wouldn’t face difficulties from missing the exam. I received recognition as well, particularly from the paragliding and adventure community.” Mahagade shared that his parents were initially unaware of his little adventure and even scolded him for taking such a risk. “Although the incident took place on December 15, it still feels like it happened just yesterday,” Mahagade said.
A Panchgani student paraglided 15 km to make it to his exam on time as the traffic was very high on the roads. 100 marks for creative problem solving! #ExamHacks #OnlyInIndia pic.twitter.com/YzFYKRWnSx
— Harsh Goenka (@hvgoenka) February 17, 2025
I love this story! The student's determination is truly inspiring. Wishing him lots of success! 🪂 https://t.co/D96xpCjeuc
— Milind Deora | मिलिंद देवरा ☮️ (@milinddeora) February 17, 2025
