Every year, thousands of engineering students dream of studying at IIT, landing a high-paying job abroad and building a successful career overseas. For many, that’s the ultimate definition of success. But a story that has gone viral online is reminding people that sometimes, life’s biggest decisions aren’t made in boardrooms—they’re made at home.Meet Vivek Sharma, an IIT Bombay Computer Science gold medallist who reportedly turned down a $240,000 (around Rs 2.9 crore) annual job offer from a San Francisco-based startup just before moving to the US. The reason wasn’t a better salary or another opportunity. It was his parents.Today, instead of living in Silicon Valley, he runs a small grocery store beneath his house in Kanpur, teaches coding to underprivileged children and says something that has resonated deeply with readers: “My parents are my biggest company.”
The IIT dream his parents helped build
Vivek’s journey began in a lower-middle-class family in Kanpur.His father worked as a railway clerk, while his mother took tuition classes to supplement the family’s income. Like countless Indian parents, they invested everything they had in their son’s education. According to the viral post, savings were exhausted, jewellery was sold and every rupee was carefully planned so that Vivek could study in Kota before earning admission to IIT Bombay.The sacrifices paid off.Not only did Vivek graduate in Computer Science, but he also earned a gold medal. In his final year, he received what many engineering students would describe as a dream offer—a position at a San Francisco startup with an annual package worth nearly $240,000, complete with visa sponsorship and relocation.It looked like years of hard work had finally come together.Then life changed overnight.
A decision that redefined success
Just before he was due to leave for the US, Vivek’s father reportedly suffered a heart attack. Around the same time, his mother was diagnosed with breast cancer.Suddenly, the excitement of a global career gave way to hospital visits, surgeries, chemotherapy and uncertainty.He was faced with a choice that no campus placement prepares students for.Should he move abroad and pursue the opportunity he had worked so hard to earn, or stay back with the two people who had sacrificed everything for him?He chose to stay.According to the post, Vivek cancelled his visa interview and declined the offer.Many people questioned his decision. Some reportedly told him he was being too emotional. Others felt he was giving up a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.But for Vivek, the answer was simple.His parents needed him more than any company did.
From IIT Bombay to Sharma General Store
After staying back, Vivek initially took up a local software job in Kanpur. As financial responsibilities grew, he opened a small grocery shop beneath his house—Sharma General Store.At first glance, it seemed like an unlikely destination for an IIT Bombay gold medallist.Yet the store became much more than a business.It helped the family stay afloat during one of the most difficult phases of their lives while allowing Vivek to remain close to his parents.Over time, according to the viral account, his mother’s health improved and his father’s condition stabilised. Alongside managing the grocery shop, Vivek began teaching coding to underprivileged children and took up freelance software assignments at night.Years later, his story reportedly reached the same international company whose offer he had once declined. This time, instead of asking him to relocate, they invited him to contribute remotely to an education-focused initiative.Today, Vivek continues to balance technology, teaching and family—all without leaving the city he once thought he would leave forever.
Why his story is resonating with thousands
The story has prompted an outpouring of reactions online, with many professionals saying it challenged their own definition of success.Some shared similar experiences of returning home to care for ageing parents, even when it meant putting successful careers on hold. Others observed that achievements cannot always be measured by salaries, job titles or foreign postings.One commenter reflected that success is contextual—for some, it means building a global career; for others, it means standing beside family when they need you most.Another wrote that life isn’t a race with a single finish line. Everyone has different responsibilities, different circumstances and different timelines, making comparisons both unfair and incomplete.For students chasing entrance exams, campus placements and dream packages, Vivek’s journey offers an important reminder.Academic excellence can open doors.A great career can create opportunities.But sometimes, the hardest—and perhaps the bravest—decision is choosing people over prestige.Whether one agrees with Vivek’s decision or not, his story has sparked a larger conversation about ambition, responsibility and what success really means.Perhaps that’s why one line from his journey continues to stay with readers:“My parents are my biggest company.”Disclaimer: This article is based on a viral social media post and public online discussions. TOI Education has not independently verified the personal details, academic credentials, employment history or events described. The story is presented for informational and inspirational purposes only and reflects the claims made in the original post and subsequent public reactions.
