Mumbai Panipuri seller's son who once failed now gets iit seat

Harsh Gupta, a 19-year-old from Kalyan in Maharashtra, has proved that failure is not the end. After failing his Class 11 exams, many people thought his dream of studying at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) was over. But Harsh didn’t give up. With strong support from his family and his own determination, he bounced back, studied hard, and earned a seat at IIT Roorkee.

Harsh’s father, Santosh Gupta, runs a small pani puri stall in Kalyan, a town that is part of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. Despite earning very little, his father believed in his son’s dreams. He supported Harsh with everything he could, even withdrawing from his savings to help pay for Harsh’s studies.

After failing Class 11, Harsh decided to go to Kota, Rajasthan, a city known for its coaching institutes that prepare students for competitive exams. He enrolled in a coaching centre there and focused completely on his goal to get into an IIT.

Harsh said that after his failure, many classmates made fun of him. Some even said that a pani puri seller’s son could never get into IIT. But he ignored them. Instead, he dedicated 10 to 12 hours a day to study. He did not let their words stop him.

Hard work and success

Harsh worked hard and scored 98.59% in the JEE-Mains exam. He cleared JEE-Advanced as well, which is the final step to get into one of the IITs. At first, he didn’t get a seat in the IIT of his choice. But he didn’t lose hope. He tried again the next year and finally secured admission at IIT Roorkee.

Now, Harsh is the first student from his school and his family to enter IIT. He wants to become a civil servant in the future. His story is inspiring for many students who have faced failure.

Harsh gave a strong message to all students: “Don’t let failure define you. Never give up.”

He shared how his father always encouraged him to continue studying. “My father used to tell me, ‘I couldn’t study, but you must chase your dreams,’” Harsh said.

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His father, Santosh Gupta, is extremely proud. “I am just a pani puri vendor, but I will do anything for my children’s future,” he said. He added that Harsh was always good at studies but their financial condition was not strong. Still, he made sure Harsh got the support he needed.

Santosh now dreams of helping his other sons, Shubham and Shivam, also get a good education.

Harsh thanked his family and friends for standing by him. He also thanked his coaching centre and teachers in Kota for guiding him through his journey. His message to others is simple — believe in yourself, work hard, and never let a failure decide your future.