Many students believe that failing a test means the end of their dreams. A bad report card, dropping out of school, or missed opportunities often feel irreversible. But some of India’s most inspiring success stories begin with academic setbacks, not perfect grades.PC Mustafa, founder of iD Fresh Food, is such a story. Born into a poor family in a remote village in Kerala’s Wayanad district, Mustafa dropped out of school after failing sixth grade. A few years later, he graduated in engineering, studied at the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, and founded one of India’s best-known food brands.
The teacher who refuses to let his students give up
Mustafa grew up in Chennarod, a small village in the hills of Wayanad. His father worked as a day laborer on a ginger farm, earning just enough to support the family. Like many children from economically disadvantaged families, Mustafa spent part of his childhood working in the fields with his father.He is not interested in school. After failing his Level 6 exams, he decided to drop out of school and continue working on the farm.If not for a teacher, this decision could have affected him for the rest of his life.His math teacher noticed Mustafa’s absence and walked all the way to the farm to find him. Standing among the crops, he asked a question that would change the young boy’s future: Does he want to struggle his whole life for a daily wage like his father, or does he want to study and create a different future for himself and his family?This sentence has been lingering in Mustafa’s mind.After returning to school, he worked harder than before, ranking at the top of Class 7, and also performed well in Class 10, gradually regaining confidence in his abilities.
From financial woes to engineering and IIMs Bangalore
Education soon became Mustafa’s greatest opportunity.He received free seats and free meals during college, which relieved his family’s financial burden. Later, he secured 63rd rank in the Kerala Engineering Entrance Examination and completed his engineering degree.The journey has not been without its challenges. Since he was studying the local language, English lectures initially proved difficult to follow. A classmate translated the lessons for him until he could understand them independently.After graduation, Mustafa built a successful career with multinational companies in Dubai, earning salaries his family could never have imagined. But he wanted to build something of his own. To strengthen his management skills, he returned to India and furthered his studies at IIM Bangalore.
From small kitchen to household name brand
In 2005, Mustafa and his four cousins used their savings to start a small business in Bangalore. They prepare fresh idli and dosa batter in a humble kitchen and sell it in simple plastic bags.This humble beginning eventually grew into iD Fresh Food, a company that today sells fresh food products in India and international markets. The brand expanded far beyond batter, creating jobs for thousands of people while becoming a familiar name in millions of households.Looking back, Mustafa often credits education — not just the degree, but the people who believed in him — with changing the course of his life.His journey also highlights the lasting impact teachers can have. If his math teacher hadn’t walked to that farm years ago, India might never have seen the entrepreneur who founded iD Fresh Food.For students worried about disappointing exam results, PC Mustafa’s story provides an important reminder: failing an exam does not determine your future. Sometimes, all it takes is a teacher, a conversation, and a willingness to start over.
