Pawan Kumar Chandana, once an average student who scored only 51 in mathematics, went on to build Skyroot Aerospace — now recognised as India’s largest private rocket-building facility. His story is a powerful reminder that early academic performance doesn’t define one’s potential.

Chandana’s turnaround began during his IIT-JEE preparation, where a newfound passion for math and science took root. He went on to study mechanical engineering at IIT Kharagpur and later joined ISRO, contributing to the GSLV-Mk3 rocket project. But in 2018, driven by a bold dream of private-sector space access, he quit his government job to build rockets privately.

With little funding and no prior business background, Chandana reached out to investors — and secured backing from a fellow alumnus. Skyroot launched India’s first privately developed rocket, Vikram‑S, in 2022. In just a few years, the company expanded rapidly, now working toward orbital launches with Vikram‑1 and housing a major rocket manufacturing campus.

Chandana’s journey — from mediocre school grades to leading a space-age startup — is more than inspirational. It challenges conventional ideas about talent, schooling and success — proving that ambition, perseverance and vision can launch you far beyond what early marks suggest.