Long before internet access became common in Indian households, early exposure to computers played a role in shaping the path of several future technology entrepreneurs. One such example is Faisal Farooqui, whose early experiences with software development predated the rise of India’s consumer internet platforms.
Farooqui grew up in a family that combined agricultural and business activities. His father, Idris Farooqui, belonged to a land-owning farming family in Uttar Pradesh and managed farmland there while also being involved in the family’s bakery business in Mumbai. His ancestors participated in the 1857 uprising against British rule. Raised in a large joint household that placed importance on education and work, Farooqui developed an early interest in technology rather than joining the family’s traditional business.
Farooqui attended St. Stanislaus High School in Bandra and later completed his higher secondary education at Jai Hind College. He performed well in the board examinations during this period.
Early encounters with computing in a pre-Internet India
Farooqui grew up in a large joint family in Mumbai, where education was emphasised alongside traditional family businesses. His introduction to computers came during his school years in the late 1980s, a period when most information systems in India were still manual.
In 1988, while visiting Mumbai’s Victoria Terminus railway station, he observed a computerised reservation system being used to manage ticket bookings. The system demonstrated how machines could organise and retrieve large volumes of data efficiently, an idea that stood out at a time when such technology was rarely seen outside institutional settings.
Soon after, Farooqui began experimenting with basic programming using a Casio SF-3500 digital diary. His access to more advanced systems increased when his school introduced IBM-compatible computers, followed by the purchase of a PC-XT for home use. Without access to online tutorials or formal computer training, he relied on manuals, experimentation, and trial-and-error learning.
First practical software project and its lasting impact
In 1989, Farooqui was asked by his oldest brother, a surgeon, to help manage growing volumes of patient and surgical records. Using dBASE IV, he developed a basic record-management system that allowed data to be stored, categorised, and retrieved more efficiently. The project introduced him to relational databases and practical problem-solving through software.
His career progressed from building a database system at home as a teenager to experimenting with early online business models in India. An initial project, undertaken at the request of his brother, contributed to his continued involvement in developing user-generated and scalable digital platforms during the early growth of India’s online ecosystem.
Following this experience, he continued exploring programming languages and operating systems, including COBOL, MS-DOS, and Unix-based environments. These early experiments occurred during a time when access to computing resources in India was limited and largely self-directed.
Years later, this foundation led Farooqui into India’s early internet ecosystem. He founded MouthShut, a consumer review platform launched during the country’s initial phase of online adoption. He later expanded into online video through Dekhona, which operated for a period before being discontinued due to cost and monetisation constraints. Elements of its technology were later integrated back into MouthShut.