GREAT INSPIRATIONAL STORY OF SRIKANT BOLLA
“If IIT doesn’t need me, I don’t need IIT,” he confidently states in the film. He later graduates from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), with a degree in management science.
Srikant Bolla is a remarkable entrepreneur and social innovator, known for founding "Bollant Industries Pvt Ltd", a company focused on creating sustainable and eco-friendly packaging solutions. His journey is not just an inspiring story of business success but also a testament to resilience, determination, and the ability to overcome significant obstacles, particularly in a society where physical disabilities are often seen as a limitation.
Early Life and Struggles
Srikant Bolla was born in 1992 in a small village in Andhra Pradesh, India, into a farming family. He was born **visually impaired**, which made his early life challenging. Despite his disability, Srikant displayed intelligence and determination from a young age. However, society often underestimated him, and he faced constant discrimination. He was denied admission to science courses in high school due to his disability, despite having excellent academic credentials.
Undeterred, Srikant fought for his rights and eventually won permission to study science, emerging as a topper in his class. His challenges continued when he sought higher education. Despite being told that he wouldn’t succeed, he applied to some of the best universities in the world and was accepted by the prestigious **Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)** in the United States. He became the first international blind student to be admitted to MIT, where he pursued a degree in management and engineering.
Founding Bollant Industries
After his education at MIT, Srikant returned to India with a vision to create something impactful. In 2012, he founded **Bollant Industries Pvt Ltd**, a company that manufactures eco-friendly, disposable packaging products and provides employment opportunities for people with disabilities. The company produces a wide range of products made from natural resources like areca leaves and recycled paper, emphasizing environmental sustainability.
Bollant Industries is unique because it focuses on hiring people with disabilities, ensuring that they are not marginalized and providing them with the dignity of meaningful work. The company's motto is to enable the disabled to lead dignified lives through economic independence. Srikant’s leadership has shown that a business can be profitable while also being socially responsible. His company has grown significantly, attracting investments from notable figures like **Ratan Tata** and expanding its operations across various states in India.
Srikant says that I know I am married to my work, yet Swathi and Nayana have become my connection with myself. They both celebrated my birthday late night, reminding me that however much I get busy in changing the world or chasing my dreams, I have two gifted souls by my side who always want me to live a little more every day.
The film also shows a moment when Bolla was recognized by the former president of India, APJ Abdul Kalam. In 2006, he met a group of students and asked them what they wanted to become. Bolla, who was 15 years old at the time, replied: “I want to become the first visually challenged president of India.” Kalam, in a speech, described how he was moved by Bolla’s confidence.
People often view disabilities as a limitation or bad luck. However, the hero of the film, Srikanth, directed by Tushar Hiranandani and based on a true story, proves that boundaries are meant to be broken.
Released in May, the movie is based on the life of a man named Srikanth Bolla, played by Rajkummar Rao, who was visually impaired from birth. His family was uneducated and relied on farming in a small village in India. As Bolla grew up, he cherished playing cricket and chess but was often beaten up by classmates. Being visually impaired taught him that during such moments, he never had the option to run. Instead, he learned to fight.
Although he was the first visually impaired science student in India, Bolla was still refused admission into India’s top engineering schools, the Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT). With his teacher’s recommendation, Bolla then applied to international universities and received five offers.
“If IIT doesn’t need me, I don’t need IIT,” he confidently states in the film. He later graduates from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), with a degree in management science.
Please do watch the Film "Srikant" to know more about real Srikant Bolla.
Under Srikant Bolla's leadership, Bollant Industries has become a successful enterprise that not only addresses environmental concerns by reducing plastic waste but also tackles the social issue of disability employment. The company employs hundreds of people with disabilities, giving them the training and opportunities they need to thrive in the workforce.
Srikant has received several awards and accolades for his pioneering work. His story has been featured in numerous national and international platforms, and he is considered a role model for entrepreneurs with disabilities. His life’s mission is to change perceptions about disabled people in society and to show that they are as capable as anyone else when given the right opportunities.
Legacy and Vision
Srikant Bolla’s entrepreneurial success is a powerful example of how adversity can be turned into opportunity. By founding Bollant Industries, he has shown that businesses can be built on strong ethical principles while still achieving financial success. His emphasis on sustainability, disability inclusion, and innovation has set a new standard in the industry.
Please do watch this film made on Srikant Bolla and seek huge inspiration. Such a man comes once in a century. He is blind, but abilities are more than a normal person. A lot to learn from him.
Rajkumar Rao played his role in the film called 'Srikant". This movie is worth watching.
Srikant Bolla continues to advocate for the empowerment of disabled individuals, aiming to expand his company's reach and impact while also encouraging others to challenge societal norms about disability. Srikant's journey is a story of grit, vision, and the belief that one can create change even when the odds seem insurmountable.
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