“I earned Rs 3 lakh a month in Canada…”: Mahakumbh’s viral IITian Baba on his journey from corporate to spiritual

Abhi Singh, the IIT-educated ascetic who grabbed attention as ‘IITian Baba’, spoke about his remarkable life journey and revealed unexpected details about his past in a recent interview with Headlines India during the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj.

Singh, who studied aeronautical engineering at IIT Bombay, shocked many viewers when he discussed his decision to give up a promising career in favor of a spiritual path. His interview with CNN News18 earlier this week went viral, leading to widespread speculation about his life choices, especially given his striking appearance – his dreadlocks and tattered clothes.

In his latest interview, Singh revealed that he lived in Canada for three years, earning Rs 3 lakh per month, a total of Rs 36 lakh annually. “In terms of Indian rupees, I used to earn INR 3 lakh a month in Canada. But the expenses there are proportional (to your salary). An apple here will cost Rs 50. It will be sold there for INR 200,” Singh explained in Hindi. He moved to Canada in 2019 But he left the job to pursue spirituality after struggling with depression and wanting a deeper meaning in life.

Reflecting on his past relationships, Singh revealed that he dated a girlfriend for four years but eventually lost confidence in marriage due to the turbulent relationship between his parents. Shaadi se muhi dar lagta tha. “I was afraid of marriage,” he admitted. Just my parents were jealous of me ladai karti (I was afraid to get married. My parents were fighting).” He explained, “When you only see bad examples, you have no idea how a good relationship actually works. I had a girlfriend for four years, but the relationship was… Stuck. I never understood how to move forward.”

Singh also candidly discussed his youthful habits, saying: “I did what any other boy would do. I drank and smoked cigarettes and bidis. But I had a passion to seek the truth.”

When asked about his family, Singh’s response was telling of his current mentality: “Nahi. Ab toh sirf Mahadev hai (No, now he’s just Mahadev).”

Who is Abhi Singh?

Abhi Singh holds a Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering (2008-2012) and a Master’s degree in Design and Visual Communications (2013-2015), both from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay.

From 2014 to 2022, Abhi contributed to many organizations and projects. He founded GreyWall (2014–2017), where he provided impactful brand stories for clients like Oyo Rooms. He later worked as a Communications Designer and Project Manager at Bombay Shaving Company (2017-2019).

After moving to Canada, he worked as a Digital/UI Designer at Canadian Tire (2019-2021). His last role was at Elite Digital (2022), where he designed medium-resolution wireframes for web pages.