A viral Instagram video has turned the spotlight on Maninder Singh, a former IT professional who traded his tech career in the US for a humble food stall in Mohali, Punjab. His story, shared by food platform Foodler, has reignited discussions about work, dignity and how society measures success.
Singh, who spent over a decade in the tech sector, including three years in New York, made the switch after returning to India following his father’s death, TOI reported. Instead of re-entering the corporate world, he found inspiration in his wife’s culinary skills. “She’s a brilliant cook. So I thought, why not build something around her skills?” he says in the video, standing by his stall serving rajma chawal, soya chaap and other Punjabi staples.
The clip has resonated widely, with many applauding his choice while others question societal expectations around careers. Singh’s stall has seen a surge in customers since the video went viral, proving that fulfilment, for him, now lies in the sizzle of his kadhai rather than an office cubicle.
Singh isn’t the first professional to leave a high-paying career for the food industry. Notably, several Indian techies have made headlines for quitting high-paying jobs in the US and starting food ventures or other businesses in India, often driven by a desire for personal fulfilment, family reasons or to capitalise on India's booming startup ecosystem.
For example, The Better India highlights five tech professionals who left their IT careers to launch successful food businesses. These include Azmat Ali Mir, who started a Kashmiri cuisine eatery in Bengaluru; Murali Gundanna, who runs a home-cooked meal service in Mysuru; and Sandeep Jogiparti, who, after five years as a software engineer in the US, launched a healthy sweets brand with his wife. Business Insider reports on expat Indians like Nithin Hassan and Bhide, who left high-profile jobs at companies like Meta and StubHub to start new ventures in India, reflecting a broader trend of reverse migration and entrepreneurial risk-taking among the Indian diaspora.
These stories reflect a broader shift in attitudes, particularly among younger Indians, who are increasingly prioritising passion and mental well-being over traditional career prestige.
Singh’s stall has seen a surge in customers since the video went viral, proving that fulfilment, for him, now lies in the sizzle of his kadhai rather than an office cubicle. Social media reactions have been mixed, while many applaud his courage, others question whether such choices are feasible for those without financial safety nets.
The debate echoes larger conversations about India’s evolving definitions of success. As more professionals like Singh share their journeys, they challenge the notion that stability must come from conventional career paths.
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