Imagine being a child who’s born blind. Can you? Now, also imagine dealing with abject poverty and hailing from a remote village along with a life plunged into darkness. It would break the best of us, wouldn’t it?
But not this entrepreneur, who has inspired a generation of game changers, whose first business investor was none other than Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, and who built a Rs 100 crore empire. Someone who couldn’t see but had a vision!
Curious to know who? Read on
Over Despair
Born blind in a small Andhra Pradesh village, Srikanth Bolla faced a future no one thought he could conquer.
His relatives urged his parents to abandon him—how could he survive in a world made for the sighted?
But his parents chose hope, refusing to give up on their son.
Every Obstacle
A fundamental right for everyone else, but for Srikanth, education was a luxury, as he faced social and physical barriers every day.
A 5 km commute and being excluded from school activities couldn’t hold him back from anything — not even climbing trees or plucking coconuts.
Above New Struggles
Moving to Devnar School for the Blind in Hyderabad wasn’t easy—new chores, a new language, and unfamiliar food—but Srikanth’s passion for building inclusive communities kept him going.
He quickly became the fastest Braille reader and writer, a competitive chess player, and an active participant in every school competition, growing stronger daily.
Limits in the Pursuit of Science
Srikanth aced his matriculation but was denied the chance to study science. Undeterred, he fought the education board in court and won in just six months.
Rejected by BITS Pilani and IIT, he boldly declared, “If IIT doesn’t want me, I don’t want IIT!” With relentless determination, he became the first blind international student to graduate from MIT.
A Vision for Change
While at MIT, Srikanth set up a computer training center and Braille library in Hyderabad to empower individuals with disabilities through technology.
Despite his efforts, he saw a harsh reality—his students were still overlooked in the job market. Around the same time, he identified an untapped opportunity in eco-friendly packaging, sparking the idea that led to Bollant Industries.
A Legacy of Inclusion
In 2012, Srikanth, alongside angel investor Ravi Mantha, founded Bollant Industries.
His goal was clear—to bridge the gap between employment opportunities for people with disabilities and the growing demand for eco-friendly packaging.
What began as a bold idea quickly became a powerful mission combining empowerment and sustainability. Bollant soon became more than just a company; it became a movement redefining inclusion and innovation.
That Fuels Growth
Bollant Industries began to gain momentum, attracting the trust of notable investors like Ratan Tata, who came on board in 2016.
The company rapidly expanded to over 500 employees from a small team of five, proving that purpose-driven businesses can scale and succeed.
Through Purpose
Bollant’s mission is simple yet powerful: deliver eco-friendly, high-quality products while empowering individuals. The company produces Kraft paper, FMCG products, non-chemical adhesives, printing inks, and surfactants.
With 500 employees and 2,500 more indirectly impacted, Bollant is focused on creating jobs for unskilled, uneducated, and differently abled individuals. For Bollant, success isn’t just about profits but about uplifting people.
The Green Talk
Srikanth’s passion for sustainability drives Bollant Industries. “I call myself a waste person because I love waste,” he says, and the company truly lives by it.
From recycling water, plastic, ash, and solid waste to repurposing pharmaceutical effluents into industrial chemicals, Bollant is a zero-waste company.
It’s also tackling single-use plastics by sourcing fallen areca leaves from Karnataka farmers and paper from local mills to create eco-friendly alternatives.
A Thriving Ecosystem
The Bollant Group is rapidly expanding, with logistics, retail, laboratories, packaging, and foods divisions.
A new Rs.14 crore automated plant is being set up in Andhra Pradesh’s Sri City SEZ. With an annual turnover of Rs.100 crore and a 107% growth rate from 2015 to 2019, Bollant is becoming a market leader.
The Road Ahead
Inspired by Steve Jobs, Srikanth Bolla is a detail-driven leader who thrives on deadlines.
With bold goals, he aims to make Bollant Industries a unicorn by 2025, targeting a Rs.1,000 crore turnover and a global presence through a public listing.
He also envisions a sustainable enterprise where 70% of the workforce are people with disabilities, blending purpose with profitability.
A True Inspiration
Srikanth recorded his lessons on a T-series cassette to study as a student. Today, T-series backs his biopic. Born blind, he never let it stop him from dreaming big.
Srikanth and Bollant Industries embody his words: “The world says, ‘You can do nothing.’ I say, ‘I can do anything.’”
I’m Archana R. Chettiar, an experienced content creator with
an affinity for writing on personal finance and other financial content. I
love to write on equity investing, retirement, managing money, and more.
