He failed sixth grade, dropped out of school and worked on his father’s farm, and today he heads a food company reportedly worth over Rs 4,000 crore
Failing an exam often feels like the end of the road. Many students come to believe that one transcript will determine the rest of their lives. But entrepreneur PC Musthafa’s journey tells a very different story – one where failure becomes the starting point rather than the finish line.Mustafa was born in a remote village in Wayanad district of Kerala, failed to pass sixth grade and dropped out of school to work with his father. His father was a daily wage earner who earned just enough to support his family. Today, he is the CEO of iD Fresh Food, which is reportedly valued at over Rs 4,000 crore and whose products are sold to hundreds of thousands of households in India and multiple international markets every day.
The teacher who refused to let the failure of Class 6 disappear
Mustafa spent his childhood in poverty. The family lives in a hut in Chenalod village and is not even sure of two meals a day. His father worked on a ginger farm, earning about 10 rupees a day, and young Mustafa often worked with him in the fields instead of focusing on school.After failing sixth grade, he stopped attending classes altogether.One day, his math teacher noticed an empty bench in the classroom and decided to look for him. He makes it all the way to the farm where Mustafa works and asks a question that changes his life forever.“Do you want to work hard all your life like your father, or do you want to change your future through education?”The conversation stayed with him.Mustafa returns to school with renewed determination. The boy who failed in one year topped class 7, excelled in class 10, got free seats and free meals in college, secured 63rd rank in the Kerala Engineering Entrance Examination, completed computer science engineering at NIT Calicut and later studied management at IIM Bangalore.
From six-figure salary to delivering idli batter on scooter
After graduation, Mustafa worked for multinational companies in the Middle East and the United States, earning salaries his family could never have imagined.But he wanted to build something of his own.In 2005, he returned to Bangalore and invested his savings with his cousins to start a small food business in a 50-square-foot kitchen.The idea is surprisingly simple.Musthafa realized that packaged idli and dosa batters available in the market often contained preservatives and the preparation methods were not always hygienic. He decided to make fresh batter without added chemicals or preservatives and sell it in simple plastic packaging.In the early days, there were no delivery trucks or complex supply chains. Mustafa himself loads bags of fresh batter onto his motorcycle every morning and supplies them to nearby grocery stores before sunrise.
From a small kitchen to a Rs 4,000-crore food brand
That small kitchen has grown into one of India’s most prominent fresh food companies.Today, iD Fresh Food reportedly produces more than 50,000 kilograms of fresh batter every day. Its products – from idli and dosa batter to parotas and chutneys – are sold in major Indian cities as well as international markets such as the UAE, US and Oman.The company, which started with a handful of employees, now provides livelihood to thousands and is reportedly valued at over Rs 4,000 crore.Mustafa’s personal experience is equally remarkable. Growing up in a small village where the rupee was important, he now lives in Bengaluru and often talks about how education changed not just his career but his family’s future.
Why students should remember PC Musthafa’s story
People tend to think that success only belongs to the top students in school. The life of PC Musthafa challenges this assumption.He failed sixth grade and dropped out of school. His English is very difficult. He comes from a family that can barely afford three meals a day.None of these setbacks stopped him from studying at NIT Calicut and IIM Bangalore, giving up a high-paying corporate career, or building one of India’s most successful homegrown food brands.For students disappointed with exam results, his story offers a simple but powerful lesson: A failed exam may change your plans, but it won’t necessarily determine your future. Sometimes, all it takes is a teacher who believes in you and the courage to start over.
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