Before I share my story, I want us to remember that India largely resides in its villages and towns. There are a lot of people in our country who have a lot of potential, but they seldom get the opportunity to prove their worth. The only thing they lack are opportunities, which I feel city-dwellers often take for granted.
I was born in Rewari, Haryana, where I lived with my parents and two brothers. My primary education was in a Hindi-medium school. When I was ready to go to senior school, my father decided our family must move to Delhi. The new city meant a brand new life: no friends and zero familiarity.
Gaurav (red-shirt) with his father, brother and a cousin
To my parents' credit, despite a financial crunch, they worked hard to provide for us. When we moved, I thought my life would be easy and enjoyable, but Delhi's school was totally different from Rewari's. Students were mean and bullied me for my accent. If I kept quiet, they picked fights with me. Until class 7, I never told my family I regularly got beaten up by classmates. In class 8, I joined the cricket and football team, and it was on the sweaty canvas of the playground that I finally found friends who appreciated my Haryanvi-ness.
2012 was a bad year for me and my family. My father passed away. We became dependent on my elder brother and had to move from Delhi to Faridabad. He himself was struggling. I somehow completed my BCA. After graduation, I was keen to study design, but I had to study coding. My brother knew I enjoyed design, so he would teach me at night after he returned from office. He bought me my first computer to make sure I could practice.
Six months after graduation, I joined Grofers (now Blinkit) as part of an internship program, before getting a full-time job as a designer. During this phase, I met Sunny and Sanchit, who influenced me a lot in my career. Since I used to think in Hindi, working on designs in English felt foreign. Over time, I worked on my communication.
Gaurav (center) with his friends
Of course there were challenges, but the organisation was brimming with talented but kind individuals who helped me grow professionally as well as personally. I will forever be indebted.
When I look back, I realise that Blinkit was the platform that allowed me to showcase my strength at work. But more importantly, it accepted me and made me feel like I belonged here. Today, I have earned several nicknames, such as “design machine” and “J-god”. – I am glad about the person I have become and thrilled about the journey ahead.
I was born in Delhi to a disadvantaged family. Later, my father left us when I was 15. He was a stonemason and with his departure, I couldn’t concentrate on my studies. I ended up flunking my 12th exams.
I was born and brought up in Chandigarh. Blessed with a flawless childhood, I enjoyed a lovely family, the finest of education and a sound social life. In school, I excelled in studies as well as extracurricular activities.
