He failed IIT twice, earned Rs 35k/month, got fired and still made Rs 53 lakh. Indian techie shares how he turned his life around

At 17, all he dreamed of was cracking IIT and building a “perfect” life. But life had other plans. He failed the entrance exam not once, but twice. His first attempt landed him a 1.3 lakh rank, and the second, a 75,000 rank. Dejected but determined, he joined a Tier 2 college — unaware that his real story of grit and comeback was only just beginning.

By 20, he had another goal: to land a remote job paying $40,000–$50,000 (Rs 35 lakh to Rs 44 lakh) a year. But reality hit harder this time. He ended up earning just $400 (Rs 35.5k) a month as a software developer. Every day felt like a slow grind — waking up early, commuting through endless traffic, and returning home drained, all for a paycheck that barely made a difference. “I felt dead, defeated, and like I was never gonna make it,” he recalled.

But something in him refused to settle. Instead of giving in to despair, he decided to lock in and level up. While his friends spent their internship hours chatting, he buried himself in online tutorials. On his way home, he applied to over a hundred jobs daily. His life revolved around three things — working out, studying, and applying — as he hustled relentlessly for six months, chasing even a 1% improvement each day.

Then came the breakthrough. Interview calls began rolling in — first one, then another, and soon, three offer letters in hand. He finally bagged a remote job in 2024, marking a turning point in his journey. But the rollercoaster didn’t stop there. After converting to a full-time role, he was eventually fired. Instead of spiralling back into doubt, he took that setback as a signal to build something of his own.

At 17, all I cared about was IIT
Failed at it miserably

My rank for first exam was 1.3 L and the next time was 75k.

So I settled for a Tier 2 college. At 20, I wanted to get a Remote Job with a good $40-50k salary

Didn't happen. Got job at Newgen for $400/mo as a SDE.

I… pic.twitter.com/hAFPWfDcg5

— Harshil Tomar (@Hartdrawss) October 31, 2025

Today, the same person who once earned Rs 35,000 a month has sponsors paying him more than his old salary, works with large enterprises, and has hit over Rs 53 lakh in revenue. Sharing his story on X, he said he had no connections or shortcuts — just pure grind, persistence, and belief that he could figure things out. His message is clear: even if you fail, get fired, or feel stuck in traffic questioning your life, your comeback story is still waiting to be written.

Internet reacts
Many found his story deeply motivating. One person said it was exactly the boost they needed, sharing that they had just started their own journey a month ago with zero followers and were grinding every day, hoping to one day look back and tell a story like his. Another user expressed how glad they were that life took him on a different path, saying he had far more potential than the typical IIT mould. Others called his journey a powerful reminder of resilience and self-belief — proof that setbacks can become fuel and that consistency always wins over luck.