
IIT-B graduate who grew up in slum is now a Google techie in Switzerland. How important are IITs?
“Ashok Talpatra was my hostel mate at IITB. His parents earned less than 10K/month, and they lived in a slum for 500 INR/month. He cracked AIR 63 out of 4.7L students and is now a Staff Software Engineer at Google in Zurich. IITs are India’s biggest social mobility enablers,” Bhatnagar posted on X (formerly Twitter).
The Role of Coaching Programs and Alternative Paths
Bhatnagar credited Dakshana, a Super 30-style coaching program for underprivileged students, as a key factor in Talpatra’s success. “Ashok has transformed the lives of his parents with talent and grit, creating what is generational wealth for his family's background. Incredible story, very humbling,” he added.
His post triggered a flood of reactions from users who shared their own experiences of rising from modest backgrounds. Many agreed with Bhatnagar’s claim that IITs play a crucial role in changing lives. However, some pointed out that state universities, other government-backed institutions, and alternative education pathways also contribute significantly to social mobility.
Startup founder Atul Mehra shared his own perspective, arguing that state universities have also uplifted students from underprivileged backgrounds. “True. State univ are equally good too. My dad earned 6-8k + perks. My friend's dad earned 2k-5k. We lived in shared joint family. Today my friends make top 2-5% of US in Silicon Valley. We all went to state universities. We had no guidance to crack IITs. IT is gr8 leveler.”
Another user, emphasized the role of Navodaya