As the famous dialogue from Mirzapur goes, “Shuru majboori me kiye the, lekin ab maza aa raha hai” (We started out of helplessness, but now we’re enjoying it)—but for me, there was no fun in the beginning. The journey was tough, and everything I’ve achieved is the result of overcoming hurdles that life threw my way.
The Early Days: A Story of Struggle
I come from a middle-class family, and growing up, life was far from easy. My father passed away when I was just two years old, leaving behind only memories captured in photographs. My mother, the true warrior of my life, raised my elder brother and me, ensuring that we never lacked for education, even when finances were tight. She worked hard, doing everything from stitching clothes in a boutique to working in a beauty parlor. She even went door-to-door selling shampoos, earning just 4,000 to 5,000 rupees a month. Despite the limited income, she never compromised on our education, investing most of what she earned to ensure we received a good education.
As expenses grew and her income wasn’t enough, we had to shift schools. Initially, I studied at Rukmani Devi Public School in Pitampura, but as the fees became unaffordable, we moved to Happy Home Public School, and eventually, to a government school. There’s a common misconception that government schools don’t offer the same quality of education as private schools. I can tell you from experience, that this isn’t true. A child’s success depends on their dedication, not the type of school they attend. I graduated from Government School, Sector 7, Rohini, and passed my 10th-grade exams with over 95%—because for me, studying wasn’t just important, it was my only way out of poverty.
Turning Points: Finding Purpose
During my school years, the financial strain at home meant my brother and I had to find ways to contribute. We started buying inexpensive goods from Azadpur Market and selling them in local markets like Mangal Bazaar and Shukul Bazaar. These small efforts helped us manage daily expenses, but the one thing we never allowed was for our studies to suffer.
A significant turning point came when my brother started tutoring me, and a family friend noticed his teaching ability. She asked if he could teach her child, and that’s how it all began. We started with small tutoring sessions, and before long, I found myself teaching too, even though I wasn’t interested at first. But as I started teaching, I realized I had a talent for explaining science in a way that students understood—and enjoyed.
By the end of 11th grade, I had around 30 to 40 students attending my classes. I still remember the day I earned my first real payment for tutoring, and how proud it made me feel. That moment fueled my desire to keep teaching, and I knew I had found my calling.
The Struggles Weren’t Over
Life took another sharp turn when my family made a large investment in property—a decision that led to a financial disaster. We lost everything, and it seemed like our world had crumbled. Our academy, which had grown and provided us some financial stability, was on the verge of being sold. But my brother and I made a decision: no matter what, we would not let our academy fail. We knew that education was our way out, and we held on tightly.
It was during this difficult time that I turned to the online world. Five years earlier, I had created a YouTube channel where I posted science videos, but it never gained much traction. The channel remained inactive for nearly four years. However, when life hit rock bottom, I decided to give YouTube another shot. With my wife’s encouragement, I began posting science experiment videos on YouTube Shorts, and that’s when everything changed.
A Viral Success: The Turning Point
One day, out of nowhere, one of my videos went viral. It was a simple explanation using dumbbells to demonstrate how a torch works, but it resonated with millions of people. That video gained 10 million views, and from there, my subscriber count started to skyrocket. In just 1.5 months, we hit one million subscribers. I remember thinking, “How far can this go?” Little did I know that within another month and a half, we would reach 2.3 million subscribers, and I would become part of the world’s fastest-growing educational YouTube channel.
What set my channel apart wasn’t just the content—it was the way I delivered it. I connected with my students. I wasn’t a formal, distant teacher. I made science fun, relatable, and personal. Students didn’t just learn concepts; they understood and remembered them. They felt connected to me, and that connection made all the difference.
The Present: A New Chapter
Today, thousands of students are learning through our online platform, and we continue to grow. Despite my online success, I have never given up on in-person teaching. I believe in the power of direct interaction with students, and I continue to teach offline, even as our online community flourishes.
In retrospect, I can see that all the challenges, setbacks, and hardships shaped me into who I am today. They pushed me to work harder, to find new ways to connect with students, and to never give up. As the saying goes, “Whatever happens, happens for a reason,” and I truly believe that.
My journey started with compulsion, but today, it’s my passion. To anyone reading this, remember—no matter how difficult your circumstances, if you stay true to your passion and work with all your heart, success will follow.
This is my story. And it’s just the beginning.
