An Inspiring story of Embracing Disability, Powerful Vision, Strong Intention, and Global Dominion
In a journey marked by challenges, intention and victory, Srikanth Bolla has shattered all stereotypes associated with those visually impaired and has emerged as a Visionary CEO, inspiring billions. Born blind, Srikanth today is a Public Speaker, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist, and CEO of Bollant Industries. His indomitable spirit and visionary leadership have carried the message of inclusivity and sustainability all over the world.
Srikanth’s journey began in 1991 in a small village in rural Andhra Pradesh, India. The village folk advised his poor, uneducated parents to kill the blind baby and under pressure, they did think about it too. But the love of parents took over and they brought him up with love, care and much needed encouragement.
Admitted to a regular school at 6, Srikanth used to struggle walking 2 kilometers towards the school, but with his other senses developing more, he managed well. At 8, he was admitted to a special residential school in Hyderabad and he topped his class 10 results.
Srikanth was determined to study science. However, the education board didn’t know how to accommodate a blind student in science back then. Thanks to a legal battle with Srikanth, many blind students can now study science as a major.
As stories of Srikanth’s resilience grew, he became a Youth Leader in the Lead India Program 2005 to combat poverty and unemployment. He commenced his journey in social service as a youth trainer to more than 800,000 youth, and attracted the attention of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, who called him his ‘inspiration and hero’.
After his HSC, coaching centers refused to teach him for graduation and thus, Srikanth became the first international blind student to study at the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA. Apart from academics, Srikanth is an all-rounder, having excelled at national level blind cricket, international chess, baseball and swimming.
At 20, Srikanth had co-founded Samanvai Center for Children with Multiple Disabilities in Hyderabad, which provided educational, vocational, financial, and rehabilitation services to students with multiple disabilities for an economically independent and self-sustained life. He also designed and implemented a Braille library in Hyderabad with the support and grants from The Legatum Centre at MIT.
“I lack eyesight but no Vision. An entrepreneur’s life is a roller-coaster and one needs self-belief.”
Srikanth took his biggest leap of faith when he co-founded Bollant Industries in 2012 with his mentor, angel investor Ravi Mantha, former President APJ Abdul Kalam and a mere capital of about Rs 10 lakh. Bollant produces eco-friendly disposable products and packaging solutions for manufacturers out of natural leaf and recycled paper. They also offer adhesives, printing inks/printing products, and intermediate products for the disposable product manufacturers.
After a decade in the field, the value of Bollant industries has increased multifold and grows everyday in the multiples of 100 crores with over 500 employees. Its runaway success is globally significant for two crucial reasons – Social Inclusion, Long Term Vision, and Environmental Sustainability.
“Compassion is not about giving a coin to a beggar at the traffic signal. It’s showing somebody the way to live and giving them the opportunity to thrive”.
Srikanth established Bollant with the mission of overcoming employment barriers for more than hundred million physically and mentally challenged people, and to provide sustainable and competitive employment to both skilled and unskilled or uneducated Indians, both of which he has achieved with aplomb, thus becoming a social entrepreneur.
As a part of sustainable leadership, Srikanth believes that protecting the environment is the only way to create wealth out of waste and build scalable businesses. This vision leads Bollant to recycle unusable water, plastic, boiler generated solid ash, and solid waste, becoming a ‘zero waste company’. Their plants run partially on solar power, making them truly green and sustainable.
While being an inspirational figure to the youth and promoting entrepreneurship, Srikanth is a disability advocate and leads a non-profit called Surge Impact Foundation, which trains entrepreneurs to build India into a developed nation.
Some of his other honors comprise:
● Best Youth Leader Award from the President of India, 2012
● Indian of the Year Award by NDTV, 2015
● Emerging Leadership Award by ECLIF Malaysia, 2016
● Social Entrepreneur of the Globe by Youth Business International Uganda, 2016
● Listed in Forbes Asia 30 under 30, 2017
● National Entrepreneurship Award by the Government of India, 2019
● Entrepreneur of the Globe by One Young World UK, 2019
● Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum, 2021
● JCI USA’s Ten Most Outstanding Young Persons of the World
● His remarkable journey is now the subject of a movie – Srikanth.
One of Srikanth’s biggest personal achievements is emerging as a Public Speaker. A motivational keynote speaker across several important global conferences and events, he has become the youth icon for students, businessmen, and corporate leaders within a short time.
Srikanth got married to Veera Swathi after a courtship of 10 years in 2022, and they were blessed with a daughter Nayana (meaning eyes and vision) in 2024. As he continues to grow from strength to strength in his personal and professional life, we have no doubt that Srikanth’s story is far from over.
