‘You’re chasing an IITian’: Viral car poster elicits mixed reactions online

For many Indian students, getting admission into the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) is a cherished and prestigious achievement. Naturally, graduating from IIT is seen as a matter of pride. However, an IIT graduate’s attempt to flaunt the achievement did not go down well with social media users, who described it as arrogant and “extremely annoying”.

The controversy began when a picture of a car sticker appeared that said: “You are chasing IITian” It started spreading across the Internet. The photo was shared on a Reddit group r/JEENEETardsa car stuck in traffic was captured with the sticker prominently displayed on the right side. Read a message addressed to those standing behind the car, “You’re chasing an IITian but that’s okay. We’re used to it.”

The post quickly gained traction on social media, sparking a range of reactions. While many found the sticker “embarrassing”, others defended the car’s owner, saying that passing one of the most difficult tests in the world gives them every right to brag.

One user commented, “I was upset reading this, it made me think that someone didn’t complain and stuck this on their car without any hesitation.” Another added, “Super cringe. Only the low keys are flexible like that. And even when a Harvard graduate introduces himself without saying Harvard, he says, ‘I went to school in Boston.’

An Indian Institute of Technology alumnus also commented on the post: “I’ve really stopped telling people where I study just because of these idiots.”

On the other hand, one user defended the car owner, saying: “No, they passed one of the hardest exams in the world while you sit at your parents’ house unemployed and living off your father’s money at the age of thirty.”

Another user noted, “These people struggle so much to get through IIT that they don’t get anything else they can benefit from.”

The Reddit post, shared a few days ago, has received more than 3,500 upvotes and more than 200 comments.