IIT Bombay Gold Medalist Chooses Family Over $2.9 Crore US Job
An IIT Bombay graduate has become the subject of widespread discussion after reportedly turning down a lucrative job offer in the United States to care for his ailing parents. According to a post by a software engineer on social media platform X, Vivek Sharma, a Bachelor of Technology in Computer Science gold medalist from IIT Bombay, declined a position at a San Francisco-based startup offering an annual salary of nearly $240,000 (approximately Rs 2.9 crore). The post claims the offer included visa sponsorship and relocation assistance.
Sharma, who hails from a lower middle-class family in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, is said to have made the decision to stay in India. His father worked as a railway clerk, while his mother supplemented the family income by providing private tuition. The post details that the family made significant financial sacrifices to support Sharma's education, including dipping into savings, selling jewellery, and carefully budgeting their finances to allow him to study in Kota before gaining admission to IIT Bombay.
Currently, Sharma runs a small grocery shop in his locality. In addition to managing the shop, he volunteers his time to teach coding to underprivileged children. The dual commitment to his family and community has drawn praise from many online, though the story primarily derives from an unverified social media post.
IIT Bombay, one of India's premier engineering institutes, regularly produces graduates who secure high-paying jobs both domestically and abroad. The decision by a top graduate to forgo such an opportunity is rare, reflecting deeply personal priorities. However, it is not unprecedented; several professionals have chosen family responsibilities or social impact over corporate careers.
This account has not been independently confirmed by news organisations. Readers are advised to treat the narrative as a social media claim until verified from primary sources.
