In a country where cracking exams like IIT-JEE and UPSC is considered the ultimate success, Kashish Mittal’s decision has taken the internet by a storm. The young man who secured an All India Rank 6 in IIT-JEE and later an All India Rank 58 in UPSC, chose to leave it all behind for a career in singing.
A tweet introducing Kashish’s journey recently went viral with the caption which said “he quit all this to pursue singing. Good choice or a confused person who does not know what to do with his life?”
This question has sparked a flurry of responses online, some defending Kashish’s choice, others questioning it.
‘Alignment over expectation’: Internet chimes in
One of the X users, offered a strong and thoughtful take on Mittal’s choices. “Neither good choice nor confused. It’s someone choosing alignment over expectation. Cracking IIT-JEE (AIR 6) and UPSC (AIR 58) proves discipline, focus & learning agility; skills that transfer to any field, including music. Calling it ‘confusion’ assumes careers must be linear. Walking away from society’s highest badges to chase what lights you up is harder than collecting more badges.”
The user noted that real success isn’t just about ranks or titles but about living a life that feels true to you. Instead of questioning someone else’s choice, he urged others to reflect on whether they themselves would have the courage to change paths if their heart led them elsewhere.
Another user named Dakshay Desai, offered a more practical view. He said that government officers can take a break and work in the private sector without losing their public service roles. So, if Kashish ever wants to return, becoming an IAS officer again is still an option.
Meanwhile, another user with the handle @TheCitizenofBharat supported Mittal’s choice of moving towards music. “No confusion, man. If you ever get the chance, learning Indian classical music is one of the best things you can do. But yeah, sometimes you just have to go with what works best in the moment,” he said.
Some even called Mittal a “blessed soul” who is lucky to have the freedom of following his passion. “Not very many people in life get the opportunity to follow their passion,” another commented.
The other side of the internet was not very impressed with Mittal’s voice and was quite brutal in its response. One wrote, “Not that good voice He should have been a collector.” Another user called Mittal confused and said, “I don’t think even his parents will be happy. Singing – take it as a hobby, sometimes in creative areas – passion & hobby works more than professionalism.” One more user wrote, “This is a suicidal thought unless you are a millionaire already.”