Remember, when Aamir Khan in 3 Idiots told R. Madhavan, “Letter haath mein tha, taxi gate par thi… thodi si himmat aur kar leta, to poori zindagi kuch aur hoti.” This is something that has affected many aspirants. What you choose to study in bachelor’s does not always determine what you will become.However, when we talk about an IIT degree, it is not something that just falls into everyone’s hands. It is achieved through years of constant hard work and constant effort. For millions of students, getting a seat at one of India’s prestigious IITs is the ultimate academic dream. But what happens when the person who has achieved the dream sees it as a prison rather than an opportunity? The question has sparked a huge debate online after a graduate of IIT (BHU) Varanasi vividly described his four years at the institution as “prison time” for his brain. Now living in New York, Akash Sampurnanand Pandey looks back to his college days not with nostalgia, but with surprising honesty, calling himself a “last bencher”, “a spoiler”, and someone who spent more time poring over history, economics, and politics books than engineering books. His admission has divided social media, with some applauding his decision to make his own way while others question whether he lost an opportunity that thousands of people would have loved.
A degree he endured rather than enjoyed
Looking back on his time at IIT (BHU) Varanasi in 2012, Pandey painted a picture that was very different from the popular image of an IIT student immersed in laboratories, lectures, and constant problem solving.According to his story, learning in the classroom was not very interesting. He took part in the course mainly because of the 75% acceptance rate and described the four-year engineering program as something he had to “serve” to earn an IIT pass.Instead of focusing on steel, the discipline he registered for, Pandey said his focus was elsewhere. While professors taught engineering concepts, he found himself engrossed in novels, essays, and books on modern Indian history, economics, political science, and international affairs.Most of these reading materials came from my roommate, who was preparing for the UPSC Civil Services Examination.
A little less, but enough to graduate
Pandey admitted that engineering textbooks did not appeal to him. He said that he usually only takes the metallurgy book a day before the exam, just to study enough to pass. Maintaining a GPA of around 7.5, he said, was not enough to qualify for scholarships and more to remain eligible for admission to the school.However, experts in foreign studies, explained that he was a person who is willing to explore different things, showing that his college studies go beyond the studies that were written.
Leaving engineering
Graduation made a big difference. Pandey ventured into business through consulting but eventually gave up engineering altogether. Summarizing his career journey, he said that immediately after completing his degree, he “ran as far away” from his boss as possible.The central message of his post was simple but thought-provoking: “Don’t let a four-year degree rule your forty years.”The term also resonated with many professionals who have changed industries after graduating, especially at a time when jobs are increasingly based on transferable skills rather than formal education.
Social media divides opportunity, passion, and responsibility
While many readers found it difficult to read a story they did not like, others argued that the story raised larger ethical questions.Several users criticized Pandey for sitting on a competitive IIT seat despite having no interest in metals. They said that an aspirant, a true lover of the discipline, could have benefited greatly from the opportunities and scholarships offered by the top engineering institutions in India.Some commentators have gone on to say that approval represents a waste of public resources and personal privilege.
But others felt that his journey was very important.
One user shared his experience of completing a medical degree before transitioning to clinical information and data science, saying that the new career offered greater intellectual satisfaction and a better work life. Another admitted that he regretted choosing metallurgy during college and wished he had chosen a different branch of engineering. The responses revealed a larger conversation that went beyond one person’s story.
An indication of the change in career goals
Pandey’s writing comes at a time when career paths are increasingly non-linear. Engineers become writers, go to tech, lawyers, start-ups, and graduates reinvent themselves multiple times in their working lives.For many young professionals, the story resonated not because it celebrated the abolition of education but because it showed the dilemma many students face, obtaining a higher degree while realizing that their true passion lies elsewhere.Yet the criticism also reflects another reality of Indian education, where admission to higher education is fiercely competitive and each seat represents years of aspiration for thousands of people.The discussion, therefore, is not limited to the career choices of one IIT student. It is about the growing relationship between education, opportunity, and personal satisfaction.In the end, Pandey’s reflection has been more than a personal confession. It has sparked a great debate about whether higher education should be seen as a lifelong qualification or just the beginning of a long and uncertain professional journey.