This IIT-JEE topper’s story will left you Socked, IIT Bombay with AIR 1, left after a year. Know more

The IIT JEE entrance exam is known to be one of the toughest exams in India and globally. Every year, hundreds of thousands of students attempt this exam with the hope of securing a seat at an IIT. To get into an IIT, one needs to clear the JEE Main and Advanced exams, which require a lot of hard work and dedication. Only a few thousand of the brightest students manage to clear this rigorous exam.

Let’s talk about Chitraang Murdia, who not only cleared the IIT-JEE exam but also secured an impressive rank. He got admission to IIT Bombay after achieving an All India Rank (AIR) 1 in the 2014 exam, scoring 334 out of 360 marks. However, after a year at the institute, he made a bold decision to leave and pursue his passion for physics, surprising many, including his friends and family.

Murdia’s decision to leave IIT Bombay puzzled many, but he explained his reasons in a Humans of Bombay post. Despite people’s doubts, he completed his PhD at the University of California, Berkeley in 2023 after earning his degree in Physics from MIT in 2018. Currently, he works as a postdoctoral researcher at Pennsylvania University. Murdia hopes his story inspires other students to follow their passions, especially in pure sciences, despite family expectations or financial concerns.

Murdia believes his decision to leave IIT and pursue his true interest will inspire other students. “I have seen many students who excel in physics and maths but feel compelled to pursue courses like computer science and electrical engineering. My journey aims to encourage those who wish to follow their passion for pure sciences but feel restricted by family expectations or financial concerns,” he explained.