From Self-Doubt to AIR 1 – The Unfiltered Story of Sarvesh Mehtani

 

From Self-Doubt to AIR 1 – The Unfiltered Story of Sarvesh Mehtani

“I wasn’t aiming to be AIR 1. I was just trying not to give up.”
 — Sarvesh Mehtani

Every year, over a million students across India chase the dream of getting into the IITs. It’s more than just an exam. It’s an obsession, a pressure cooker of expectations, and a battle of willpower. Among those many dreamers, one boy quietly rose through the noise—and shocked the entire nation.

Sarvesh Mehtani, a student from Chandigarh, achieved what only a few ever dare to even imagine—All India Rank 1 in JEE Advanced 2017. But his journey wasn’t as picture-perfect as the headlines made it seem. His story wasn’t about overnight success or being born a genius.
 It was about fear, fatigue, frustration—and fighting anyway.

  •  A Normal Boy With a Not-So-Normal Dream

Sarvesh wasn’t always a topper. In fact, in his earlier school years, he was like most students—decent scores, strong in some subjects, weak in others. He studied at Bhavan Vidyalaya, Chandigarh.
 His interest in science was clear from the beginning, but there was no “IIT prodigy” aura around him.

“I never thought about being AIR 1,” he admitted in an interview. “I just kept trying to be better than I was yesterday.”

That mindset—not competing with others, but with himself—is what made the real difference.

  •  The Mental Game: Pressure, Panic & Perseverance

Every JEE aspirant feels it—the pressure to perform, the weight of expectations, the voice in your head that whispers, “You’re not doing enough.”

Sarvesh felt it too.
 There were days he doubted his pace.
 Nights when he couldn’t solve a single question and went to bed frustrated.
 Weeks where he saw others doing better and felt like he was falling behind.

But here’s the thing—he never stopped showing up.

  •  The Study Strategy That Worked

Sarvesh didn’t follow the popular “study 16 hours a day” trend. His method was smarter, calmer, and more human:

  • 6–7 hours of focused, high-quality self-study daily

  • He used FIITJEE coaching material and stayed loyal to limited resources

  • No distraction from social media—he consciously avoided apps that wasted time

  • He practiced mock tests weekly and reviewed his mistakes religiously

He wasn’t trying to learn everything.
 He was trying to master the basics and build from there.

  • Family: The Silent Force Behind His Calm

Behind every achiever is someone who kept them grounded.

For Sarvesh, it was his parents.
 They didn’t pressurize him with “Score better than anyone” dreams.
 Instead, they created an environment where he could focus, make mistakes, and still feel supported.

When he doubted himself, they reminded him, “Do your best, not the world’s best.”
 That one line stayed with him until the end.

  •  Burnout, Breakdown & Bouncing Back

JEE prep isn’t just academic. It messes with your mind.
 There were moments when Sarvesh felt like quitting.
 When his scores dropped in mock tests, or when a single Physics concept just wouldn’t click.

“It’s not about never falling,” he said. “It’s about getting up again, even if no one claps for you.”

That’s what he did—quietly, consistently, and courageously.

  •  The Result Day That Changed Everything

On the morning of June 11, 2017, Sarvesh wasn’t expecting anything grand.
 He just wanted to see if he could make it into a good IIT.

He refreshed the page.
 And there it was:

“AIR 1 – Sarvesh Mehtani”

“For a few seconds, I thought it was a mistake,” he laughed later. “I couldn’t believe it.”

His phone started ringing non-stop. News reporters, relatives, friends—everyone wanted a piece of his story.
 But even in that chaos, he remained calm.
 Because deep down, he knew this wasn’t a fluke.
 It was the result of years of quiet hard work.

  • What Makes Sarvesh Different?

It’s not intelligence.
 It’s not luck.
 It’s discipline + belief + small daily wins.

He didn’t sacrifice everything. He took breaks, went for walks, played table tennis, ate his favorite food. But he knew when to stop and return to his books.

He treated each day like a new mock test.
 Each mistake like a lesson.
 Each fear like a passing phase.

  •  His Advice To Aspirants

“Don’t follow others blindly. Know what works for you. Stick to your strengths and stay consistent.”

Sarvesh’s story isn’t about being perfect.
 It’s about being real, resilient, and ready to fight till the end.


  •  Final Words: The Toppers Are Not Superheroes

Let this blog remind you: Top rankers are not born different.
 They face the same fears. The same sleepy mornings. The same heartbreak over wrong answers.

The only difference?
 They decide to push one step further.
 Even on days when motivation disappears.

So next time you’re staring at your books, tired and tempted to give up, think of Sarvesh Mehtani.
 Not because he topped JEE…
 But because he once sat where you are, scared and unsure—and still kept going.

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