Srikanth Bolla: A 24-year-old blind Indian Entrepreneur
Srikanth Bolla, is a blind entrepreneur from Hyderabad, India. His life has been full of obstacles, roadblocks and triumph against odds.
When Srikanth was born, his family was advised to disown him for his physical disability. However, the parents were determined to raise the kid in spite of their poor economic condition.
Srikanth was in 10th standard when he scored 90 per cent and he aspired to take up science for his higher studies. The policy of State-run school didn’t allow him to pursue science. He sued the State Government for this discriminatory policy against physically challenged students. It was a six-month-long fight against the state government that finally ensured him a seat in the science stream.
The problems didn’t end here. After scoring 98 per cent in his 12th Grade, he faced another roadblock. His engineering dream was falling apart as he was denied entry to appear for competitive Engineering exams. This didn’t stop him either. He applied to colleges around the world, and he was selected in 4 best colleges on Earth: MIT, Stanford, Berkeley, and Carnegie Mellon. He opted for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he also received a scholarship and became MIT’s first International blind student.
In 2012, Srikanth returned to India and he launched Bollant Industries. 60 per cent of its employees are physically challenged and/or come from economically weak backgrounds. Today, his company’s net worth is 500 million dollars. Recently his venture received investment from an Indian renowned Industrialist Ratan Tata.
Diamonds are made under pressure, Srikanth is one of the rarest diamond who continues to fight his battles and leave a legacy of an unwavering faith in himself and his potential.
“l was made blind by the perception of people. But I look up at the world and say I can do anything.” – Srikanth Bolla
Also Read: The Innovative Entrepreneur from a Small Village of Assam – Sobita Tamuli
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