Discover the inspiring journey of Srikanth Bolla — a visually impaired entrepreneur who defied all odds, became an MIT graduate, and built Bollant Industries, a $60M sustainable company empowering the differently-abled. A story of vision beyond sight, inclusion, and purpose-driven leadership.
Rashmeet Kaur Chawla
Some stories don’t begin with privilege — they begin with rejection.
Srikanth Bolla’s journey started in a small farming village in Andhra Pradesh where he was born blind. From his earliest days, the world decided who he was before he could speak for himself. Schools hesitated to admit him. Teachers doubted him. Society quietly marked him as “limited.”
But while the world questioned his future, Srikanth nurtured an unshakable belief: that disability does not diminish potential it only demands a different path to express it.
With the support of his father, who carried him miles to attend school, and the strength of his own conviction, Srikanth challenged every assumption placed on him.
“No barrier — physical, societal, or economic is ever bigger than the will to overcome it.”
This belief wasn’t just comforting — it became his blueprint for life.
The turning point came after his 10th grade exam. Despite excellent scores, he was denied the science stream because institutions believed blind students could never excel in math, engineering, or technical fields. That moment wasn’t simply unfair — it was defining. Instead of shrinking under the weight of the system, Srikanth fought back. He challenged the decision legally and won. His victory was not only personal — it was systemic. He then scored 98% in his higher secondary exams, proving not just eligibility, but excellence.
Yet rejection returned when engineering institutes, including IIT, declined his application due to policy restrictions. The message was clear: talent existed, but opportunity did not.
So, Srikanth changed his battlefield. He applied to universities abroad and earned admission to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) — becoming the first international blind student ever accepted in its history. At MIT, he explored accessibility, built solutions, and began shaping leadership rooted in empathy and innovation. But his vision pointed back home — to India.
Mindset in Action
After completing his education, Srikanth could have stayed abroad and built a stable corporate future. But he carried a deeper mission.
The MISSION?
To prove that inclusion can coexist with industry, scale, and success. He returned to India and founded Bollant Industries — a manufacturing enterprise that creates eco-friendly products using agricultural and industrial waste. But it wasn’t just the business model that stood out — it was the workforce. Many employees were individuals with disabilities people who had been denied jobs, dignity, and participation in the economy.
Bollant demonstrated a bold principle:
Bollant Industries grew from an idea into a multi-crore enterprise and a case study in social entrepreneurship, circular economy design, and ability-first employment. Srikanth’s work earned recognition including Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia, making him not just a business leader, but a symbol of transformative change.
Today, Srikanth’s journey represents more than success it represents a shift in national and global mindset.
He didn’t just break barriers; He reframed what a barrier is.
He didn’t just build a company; He built opportunities where none existed.
He didn’t just challenge discrimination; He replaced it with systems, structures, and pathways for those who would come after him, his story is proof that adversity does not block potential; it reveals it.
If the world refuses you, don’t shrink; build a world where you belong.
If the system rejects you, don’t negotiate; redesign the system.
If someone says “You can’t,” smile; because that’s the cue to prove you can.
Every “no” can become a revolution when courage refuses to be quiet.
This isn’t just the story of one entrepreneur. It is the story of what happens when courage meets purpose. Srikanth Bolla represents the power of challenging inherited limitations, the possibility of merging innovation with compassion and the reminder that true leadership uplifts others, not just oneself.
His life answers the deeper why behind every BIGSTORY we tell:
He proved that:
Vision isn’t what you see.
Vision is what you’re determined to create.
And in doing so, he transformed a life once dismissed into a story the world now stands up to learn from.
Who is Srikanth Bolla?
Srikanth Bolla is an Indian industrialist and the founder of Bollant Industries. Born blind, he became the first international blind student at MIT and later returned to India to build a multi-crore eco-friendly company that employs people with disabilities.
What does Bollant Industries do?
Bollant Industries creates eco-friendly disposable products and packaging using agricultural and industrial waste. The company is known for its "ability-first" employment model, hiring a significant workforce of uneducated and differently-abled individuals.
Where did Srikanth Bolla study?
Srikanth Bolla studied at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States. He was the first international blind student ever admitted to the prestigious institution.
What legal battle did Srikanth Bolla win?
After his 10th grade, Srikanth was denied admission to the science stream by the State Board due to his blindness. He fought a legal case against the government, won the right to study science, and went on to score 98% in his exams.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Srikanth_Bolla
https://gocrackit.com/from-adversity-to-achievement-the-triumph-of-srikanth-bolla-2/
https://www.srikanthbolla.com/
https://www.jagranjosh.com/general-knowledge/srikanth-bolla-net-worth-1742216145-1
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