In 2004 Nitin Gupta JEE rank 1 graduated from IIT Kanpur and went on to study at the University of California, today he is a researcher of mosquito brains at the same institute

For millions of families across India, an IIT is more than a college. It's a dream that starts in Class 9 or as soon as the parents realise their child’s potential in science and mathematics.People burn the midnight oil with late-night study sessions and coaching classes, while parents quietly sacrifice so their child gets a fair shot. Getting in feels like the finish line.Being called an IIT alumnus opens doors almost anywhere, and people assume that whatever comes next will be a reputed name to bank on, be successful, and the driving force behind work that is well paid.While any IIT alumnus would be the first to grab an opportunity to settle and build a name abroad, there are some who take the unpopular choice and come back to serve their nation.One such IIT alumnus is Nitin Gupta, who secured All India Rank 1 in the IIT-JEE in 2000 and…