Why IIT Became India’s Biggest Obsession

IIT is more than an engineering college in India. For millions of students and families, it has become a symbol of success, ambition and a better future.

But how did IIT become the ultimate dream for Indian students?

In this episode of “Laakhon Ka Ek: The IIT Dream”, we explore the history of IITs, from the origins of IIT Kharagpur and the Hijli Detention Camp to the rise of the IIT-JEE coaching industry and Kota’s transformation into India’s coaching hub.
We look at how IITs became a symbol of academic excellence, social mobility and career success, and how alumni, Bollywood, media, politics and the coaching industry helped shape the IIT dream.

But behind the rankings, JEE preparation, entrance exams, placements and the idea of becoming an “IITian” are real students dealing with competition, expectations and academic pressure.

So, is the IIT dream worth it?

This video does not tell you whether IIT is good or bad. Instead, it looks at both sides of the IIT ecosystem: the opportunities it creates and the pressure surrounding it.

00:00 How IIT Became India's Biggest Obsession
00:24 Why IIT Became a Symbol of Success
00:47 The IIT Myth vs. Choosing the Right University
01:12 How the First IIT Was Created
01:50 From Hijli Detention Camp to IIT Kharagpur
02:23 How Coaching Created the IIT Dream
02:55 How IIT Became a Global Brand
03:34 How IIT Became a Symbol of Success
03:44 How Bollywood Shaped the IIT Dream
04:03 The Business Behind the IIT Obsession
04:32 The Pressure on IIT Students
05:06 Student Suicides and the Bigger Crisis
05:27 Is the IIT Dream Worth It?
05:49 When the IIT Brand Becomes Bigger Than the Student

We also explore an important question for every student: Is the most famous university automatically the right university for you?
Your university choice can depend on your course, career goals, budget, academic profile, ROI and future plans.
GradRight is a higher education platform that helps students explore and compare universities and programs in India and abroad, including UG, Master's and online programs. Students can discover universities, compare programs, explore scholarships and make more informed higher education decisions.

Whether you're preparing for JEE, exploring engineering colleges in India, planning a Master's abroad, looking for UG programs or considering online courses, the right choice starts with understanding your options.

Watch till the end and decide for yourself: Is the IIT dream really the only path to success?

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