Latest news with #Maheshwari
Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
No safety net, no legacy, but...: Why this IIT Delhi, Harvard alumnus says being middle class in India is a big asset
While many perceive global progress as evenly spread, the reality tells a different story. The wealthy continue to amass more resources, often finding novel paths to grow their fortunes, while countless others move through life cautiously, lacking the safety net of affluent parents or a trust fund. Some may believe success is simply about taking risks — that the bold always win. But a viral LinkedIn post by an Indian CEO offers a different perspective. He shared his gratitude for his middle-class upbringing, crediting it with instilling the values and habits that have guided his journey to success. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category MCA Data Science Cybersecurity Product Management Artificial Intelligence Data Analytics Others Degree Data Science Finance PGDM Technology Leadership MBA others Public Policy CXO Management Project Management healthcare Operations Management Digital Marketing Skills you'll gain: Programming Proficiency Data Handling & Analysis Cybersecurity Awareness & Skills Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning Duration: 24 Months Vellore Institute of Technology VIT Master of Computer Applications Starts on Aug 14, 2024 Get Details Sameer Maheshwari, an IIT Delhi and Harvard Business School alumnus, expressed his gratitude towards being born middle-class, emphasising the lack of "legacy, advantage and safety net." However, he added how people born in middle-class families had things far more powerful, such as "strong values, hunger to achieve and resilience to face any hardship" He emphasised how "everything had to be earned." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Struggling With Belly Fat? Try This at Home Home Fitness Hack Shop Now Undo Maheshwari also went on to share 5 lessons that being middle-class will teach a person that no textbook can. Check full text here: Thank God I was born and raised in a middle class family in India! There was no legacy, no advantage and most importantly there was no safety net. If we didn't perform, there was no fall back option But what we had was far more powerful - strong values, hunger to achieve and resilience to face any hardship. Because nothing was handed in a platter, everything had to be earned. We played cricket for hours every day. But we didn't get our own bat on day 1. We had to earn it through months of showing up, proving ourselves. Buying that bat was a milestone - a reward, a motivation. And more importantly, a life lesson: anything worth having must be earned. Middle class life teaches you things no textbook ever can: - Value of Money: Every ₹ can go a long way - Need vs Want: That eating out is a treat, not a routine - Saving First: You never spend ahead of yourself - Gratitude: You appreciate what you have rather than dwell on what you don't - Comparison: You are constantly measured against peers, and must learn to convert that pressure into internal strength, not insecurity Even today, I hesitate to spend on expensive shoes. I check every site, compare deals and hunt for coupons. Not because I can't afford them but because middleclass OS still runs deep. Sometimes I wonder if I had received too much too early, would I have had the same drive? The grind gave me direction. The friction built resilience. It made me entrepreneurial, long before I even knew what that word meant. Middle class isn't just an economic label, it's a mindset. One I will always be grateful for. What's one middle-class habit or experience that still shapes your life today? Live Events How did people react? Many on LinkedIn connected with Maheshwari's post and thoughts. Many shared how hard work-based achievements made the results even more important. "We didn't just "earn" things. We waited, we negotiated, we dreamed about them for months. It made achieving them so much sweeter," wrote one. "I resonate so much. This "deal chasing" attitude helps a lot in business. There's this common term in my office when we're stuck with something "jugaad kar lenge". That jugaad blessing is a lineage." "For me, it's a habit of celebrating small wins. Growing up middle class, every little achievement, buying a new cycle, going on a family vacation, felt huge because it was hard-earned. That feeling of joy in progress, no matter how small still drives me today," added another.
Time of India
22-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Harvard alumnus Indian CEO Sameer Maheshwari shares 5 game-changing lessons he learned from middle-class roots
Image credits: X/@sameermahesh While the world may be viewing the growth and development at an equal rate among all, the reality paints a starkly different picture. While the rich are becoming richer and more and more people are figuring out unique ways of wealth, there are many who take every step with caution as they sadly lack a wealthy pair of parents or trust fund to fall back on. Some might think a life like this is very steep and linear; the ones who take the risks actually do succeed. In a post going viral on LinkedIn, an Indian CEO has shared how grateful he is to his middle-class roots that taught him habits that shaped his life today. Sameer Maheshwari, an IIT Delhi and Harvard Business School alumnus, is the founder and CEO of HealthKart, an online platform for health and fitness products. The CEO, who has 9,947 followers on LinkedIn, expressed his gratitude towards being born middle-class, emphasising the lack of "legacy, advantage and safety net." However, he added how people born in middle-class families had things far more powerful, such as "strong values, hunger to achieve and resilience to face any hardship" He emphasised how "everything had to be earned." Quoting the example of cricket, a sport most Indian children grow up playing, he shared that while they played cricket for hours, they didn't get their own bat and had to earn it by showing up and proving themselves. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Dubai villas | search ads Get Deals Undo "Buying that bat was a milestone- a reward, a motivation, And more importantly, a life lesson: anything worth having must be earned." 5 lessons being middle-class teaches you Image credits: Getty Images Maheshwari also went on to share 5 lessons that being middle-class will teach a person that no textbook can. These included: Value of money : Every ₹ can go a long way Need vs want : That eating out is a treat, not a routine Saving first : You never spend ahead of yourself Gratitude : You appreciate what you have rather than dwell on what you don't Comparison : You are constantly measured against peers, and must learn to convert that pressure into internal strength not insecurity He also pondered how maybe the lack of resources gave him the drive he has in life. "The grind gave me direction. The friction built resilience. It made me entrepreneurial, long before I knew what the word meant." He added that the middle class isn't just a label but a mindset and asked people for one middle-class habit or experience that still shapes their life today. Netizen react to Sameer Maheshwari's post Image credits: Getty Images Many on LinkedIn connected with Maheshwari's post and thoughts. Many shared how hard work-based achievements made the results even more important. "We didn't just "earn" things. We waited, we negotiated, we dreamed about them for months. It made achieving them so much sweeter," wrote one. "I resonate so much. This "deal chasing" attitude helps a lot in business. There's this common term in my office when we're stuck with something "jugaad kar lenge". That jugaad blessing is a lineage." "For me, it's a habit of celebrating small wins. Growing up middle class, every little achievement, buying a new cycle, going on a family vacation, felt huge because it was hard-earned. That feeling of joy in progress, no matter how small still drives me today," added another.
Time of India
22-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
IITian-founder of Rs 4,500 crore business thanks he is from middle class family, shares how it shaped his success
For many, success is measured by elite degrees or high-profile titles. But for HealthKart founder and CEO Sameer Maheshwari—an alumnus of both IIT Delhi and Harvard Business School—the most valuable part of his journey began much earlier, in the modest homes of India's middle class. In a recent LinkedIn post, Maheshwari opened up about how his upbringing gave him lessons that still shape his decisions, habits, and leadership style today. With no legacy to inherit and no financial cushion to fall back on, he believes the values forged in that environment became his greatest advantage. Maheshwari founded HealthKart in 2011 and the company was valued at $500 million (approx. Rs 4,500) in November 2024. He described growing up in a home where everything had to be earned. Without wealth or inherited privilege, there was constant pressure to perform—because failure didn't come with a backup plan. Yet instead of resentment, this lack of safety net taught him grit, resourcefulness, and the importance of building one's own path. He credits this reality for fuelling the drive that eventually led him to entrepreneurship . Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Data Analytics Degree Cybersecurity Data Science Design Thinking MBA Finance PGDM Healthcare Technology Public Policy Others CXO MCA Leadership Project Management Product Management Management healthcare Artificial Intelligence Data Science Operations Management others Digital Marketing Skills you'll gain: Data Analysis & Visualization Predictive Analytics & Machine Learning Business Intelligence & Data-Driven Decision Making Analytics Strategy & Implementation Duration: 12 Weeks Indian School of Business Applied Business Analytics Starts on Jun 13, 2024 Get Details Lessons Earned, Not Given He recalled how, during childhood, even something as simple as owning a cricket bat wasn't a given thing. It had to be earned by consistently showing up and proving oneself on the field. That experience, he said, taught him to value not just the reward but the process of working toward it. It instilled in him the belief that anything truly meaningful must be earned—and that mindset has stuck with him ever since. Five Life Lessons From the Middle-Class Mindset Maheshwari highlighted five core lessons from his upbringing that he continues to live by: Value of Money: Learning how to stretch every rupee. Need vs Want: Understanding that luxuries are treats, not entitlements. Saving First: Always living within means and planning ahead. Gratitude: Appreciating what one has instead of chasing what one doesn't. Comparison: Facing peer pressure but turning it into personal motivation instead of insecurity. Old Habits, Strong Roots Despite now being in a position of financial comfort, Maheshwari admitted that middle-class habits haven't left him. Whether it's hesitating before buying expensive shoes or checking multiple websites for the best deals, these behaviors are less about money and more about mindset. He called this ingrained behaviour his 'middle-class OS' — a lifelong operating system that continues to influence how he thinks and acts. Reflecting deeper, Maheshwari wondered whether growing up with more comfort and access would have made him less driven. He believes the grind gave him purpose, and the friction of limited means built resilience. Long before he understood what it meant to be an entrepreneur, the circumstances of his life had already made him one in spirit. For Maheshwari, being middle-class isn't just a financial category—it's an attitude. It's about self-reliance, hard work, and staying grounded.
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Business Standard
22-07-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Edtech firm PhysicsWallah launches AI model Aryabhata 1.0 for JEE Mains
Edtech firm PhysicsWallah has unveiled its first small language model (SLM), Aryabhata 1.0, designed specifically to support mathematics learning for competitive exams in India, starting with the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Mains. The model marks the company's foray into AI-driven learning tools and is part of its broader strategy to develop domain-specific language models that require significantly lower computing resources. According to Prateek Maheshwari, co-founder of PhysicsWallah, who shared the update on social networking platform LinkedIn on Tuesday, Aryabhata 1.0 is already delivering impressive results, outperforming several larger models in accuracy and efficiency. The model, trained on a single H100 GPU (graphics processing unit), scored 86 per cent in the JEE Mains (Maths) in the January 2024 session and an even higher 90.2 per cent in the April session, Maheshwari wrote. The nomenclature has been derived from the name of India's mathematician Aryabhata. According to PhysicsWallah, while the country has long been a hub of mathematical innovation, Aryabhata 1.0 carries forward the spirit of ancient Indian mathematics into the age of AI. Going forward, the company plans to expand the model to cover other competitive examinations like JEE Advanced and more mathematical domains, Maheshwari added. He also invited educators, researchers, and developers to explore the model, put it to the test, and share their feedback. Based on the data available on the platform's website, PhysicsWallah has more than 10 million paid students.
Mint
16-07-2025
- Business
- Mint
Only tax-verified non-profits can now execute CSR work, says govt
New Delhi: The government has tightened disclosure norms for non-profits executing corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects on behalf of companies, introducing a more detailed registration process to ensure only genuine, tax-compliant entities receive CSR funds. According to a new version of Form CSR-1 issued by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), trusts, societies, and not-for-profit companies must now submit a more structured application with enhanced disclosures to be eligible to implement CSR activities. The updated form, effective 14 July, reflects a push to align corporate giving with tax law and financial scrutiny. The move aims to prevent shell or bogus entities from accessing CSR funds and ensure that recipient organizations meet the criteria laid out in the Income Tax Act. It also expands the categories of eligible institutions. Over the last few years, the Income Tax Department has raised the reporting requirements for charitable trusts to prevent the abuse of this legal form for tax evasion. The latest move to streamline registration for CSR implementation is part of the overall effort to improve transparency. The updated Form CSR-1 also broadens the scope of entities eligible to register. Under the earlier regime, only those registered under Section 12A of the Income Tax Act, which certifies an entity as a genuine charitable institution, could apply. The revised form now allows entities that qualify for tax exemptions under Section 10(23C) of the Act, such as universities and hospitals, to register for executing CSR work as well. The new version of the form includes more elaborate fields compared to the earlier format, explained Subodh Dandawate, associate director, Regulatory Services at Nexdigm, a business advisory firm. A key change in the revised form is the mandatory requirement to furnish a copy of the registration certificate issued by the Income Tax Department under Sections 80G and 12A, as applicable, of the Income Tax Act, said Amit Maheshwari of AKM Global, a tax and consulting firm. 'This effectively means that implementing agencies must obtain income tax registration prior to receiving any CSR funds from corporations,' said Maheshwari. 'The amendment is a progressive step towards greater transparency and regulatory alignment in CSR implementation, ensuring that CSR funds are routed only through tax-verified and credible entities.' This move is expected to enhance stakeholder confidence and promote more effective deployment of CSR funds, enabling companies to engage with credible and mission-aligned partners in their social impact initiatives, Maheshwari said. It also reflects a broader policy direction towards aligning corporate philanthropy with regulatory governance and financial oversight, he said. In FY24, over 27,000 companies spent over ₹ 34,900 crore on CSR, led by HDFC Bank, Reliance Industries Ltd, and Tata Consultancy Services. The number of trusts and other entities implementing CSR projects is not readily available.
