Panipuri seller son fails class 11 exam
In the bustling lanes of Kalyan, a city on the edge of Mumbai, a humble pani puri vendor has become the father of an IITian. Harsh Gupta, 19, once written off as a failure, is now a student at the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee, a dream that once seemed out of reach.
Panipuri seller son fails class 11 exam
Harsh’s story is anything but ordinary. After failing his Class 11 exams, many thought he’d never recover. His classmates mocked him, some even questioning how a pani puri vendor’s son could dare to dream of the IITs. But instead of letting those words define him, Harsh chose to write his own story with determination, long hours of study, and the unwavering support of his family.

Panipuri seller son fails class 11 exam
“I failed in Class 11. It was a tough time, but I didn’t give up,” Harsh said. “I told myself; this isn’t the end.”
Backed by his father, Santosh Gupta, who runs a small street-side stall, Harsh took a bold step: he moved to Kota, Rajasthan often referred to as India’s coaching capital and threw himself into preparation. Studying 10 to 12 hours a day, he cleared Class 12 and then cracked the JEE-Mains with a remarkable 98.59 percentile. But his IIT journey didn’t stop there when he didn’t get the college of his choice on the first attempt, he tried again, eventually earning his seat at IIT Roorkee.
Panipuri seller son fails class 11 exam
“My dream was always to get into IIT. I didn’t let failure define me,” he said. “My father couldn’t study, but he told me to chase my dreams no matter what.”
Harsh is now the first IITian in his family and in his school.
His father, Santosh, couldn’t be prouder. “I may sell pani puri, but I’ll go to any extent to support my children’s dreams,” he said. Despite financial hardships, Santosh dipped into his life savings to ensure Harsh could study in Kota. Now, he dreams of seeing his other two sons, Shubham and Shivam, reach great heights as well.
Panipuri seller son fails class 11 exam
Harsh’s story is a powerful reminder that failure is not the end it’s just the beginning. His message to other students is simple, yet profound: “Don’t let failure define you. Never give up.”