The IITian who chose politics over a corporate career: Manohar Parrikar

From IIT Bombay to Goa's top office, Manohar Parrikar built a political life shaped by accountability. Stories from his student days and village roots show why he saw public service as a larger purpose.Manohar Parrikar is the first IITian to become a Chief Minister of state (FaceBook page of Manohar Parrikar)For generations of students, an IIT degree has represented a passport to prestigious jobs, global careers and corporate success. Manohar Parrikar had those opportunities too.Instead, the IIT Bombay graduate chose a very different path. Rather than building a career in the corporate world, he entered public life, eventually becoming Goa's Chief Minister and later India's Defence Minister. In doing so, he also became the first IIT graduate to serve as a Chief Minister in the country.His journey from the classrooms of IIT Bombay to the corridors of power was shaped not just by academic excellence, but by values that those around him noticed long before he entered politics. Three stories -- one from his IIT days, another from his childhood village, and a third from the choices he made after graduation -- offer a glimpse into the principles that defined his life.THE IIT STUDENT WHO FINED HIMSELFParrikar graduated from IIT Bombay in 1978 with a degree in metallurgical engineering. During his time at the institute, he served as the mess secretary of Hostel 4, a role that involved managing finances and ensuring rules were followed. One incident from those years has become part of IIT Bombay folklore.According to his hostelmates, a visiting family member plucked a flower from the hostel garden, violating campus rules. Although Parrikar had not committed the act himself, he insisted on paying the prescribed fine because, as the person responsible for the hostel, he believed accountability ultimately rested with him. The amount was small. The lesson was not.Former classmates have described him as meticulous with accounts, disciplined in his work and someone who believed rules should apply equally to everyone. Those qualities would later become closely associated with his style of governance.THE WATERMELON LESSON THAT BECAME HIS PHILOSOPHYParrikar often drew on a childhood memory from his native village of Parra in Goa to explain his views on education.Every harvest season, villagers organised watermelon feasts where children could eat the sweetest fruits. But they were asked to preserve the seeds from the best watermelons so the next crop would be just as good.Years later, after returning from IIT Bombay, Parrikar noticed that the village's once-famous watermelons had lost their quality. The reason, he said, was that farmers had started selling the best fruits in the market and keeping the smaller ones for seed. Over time, the harvest suffered.He turned the story into a lesson about higher education. Just as the best seeds must be preserved for future crops, he believed the country's brightest minds should help nurture the next generation through teaching, research and mentorship instead of focusing only on personal success.Industrialist Anand Mahindra later shared this anecdote during IIT Bombay's Golden Jubilee celebrations, describing it as a powerful reminder of the larger purpose of institutions like the IITs.CHOOSING PUBLIC SERVICE OVER A CONVENTIONAL IIT PATHIn the 1970s, an IIT degree was already a prized qualification that opened doors to careers in industry and opportunities abroad.Parrikar could have followed that route. Instead, after a brief stint in the private sector, he chose to devote himself to public life through grassroots political work. It was a decision that set him apart from many of his contemporaries.Over the next two decades, he emerged as one of the BJP's most prominent leaders in Goa. In October 2000, he became the state's Chief Minister, making history as India's first IITian Chief Minister. He would go on to serve four terms in the role before taking charge as the country's Defence Minister in 2014.Despite his political responsibilities, Parrikar remained closely connected with IIT Bombay. He attended alumni events, spoke frequently about education and innovation, and often reflected on how scientific thinking and ethical leadership could strengthen governance.MORE THAN AN IIT SUCCESS STORYManohar Parrikar's story is not simply about an engineer who entered politics. It is about an IIT student who believed accountability began with oneself. A village boy who used a watermelon harvest to explain why excellence must be nurtured. And a graduate who turned away from the conventional corporate route to pursue public service.Those choices eventually made him India's first IITian Chief Minister. More importantly, they showed that an IIT education can lead not only to successful careers, but also to a life dedicated to serving society.- EndsPublished By: Mridusmita DekaPublished On: Jul 31, 2026 15:33 IST