The viral 'Vivek Sharma' IIT Bombay story is fake. Even the photo wasn't his

The viral 'Vivek Sharma' IIT Bombay story is fake. Even the photo wasn't his

A heartwarming story that went viral across social media platforms, claiming an IIT Bombay graduate named "Vivek Sharma" quit a lucrative ₹48 lakh-a-year job at Google to become a temple priest, has turned out to be entirely false.

The claim, widely shared on X, Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, praised the alleged engineer for choosing spirituality over a high-paying corporate career. However, independent fact-checks have confirmed that the narrative is fabricated, and the photograph accompanying the post does not depict any person named Vivek Sharma.

What did the viral claim say?

The viral post alleged that Vivek Sharma, described as an IIT Bombay alumnus and former Google employee, resigned from his software engineering job despite earning ₹48 lakh annually.

According to the claim, he chose to dedicate his life to serving at a temple, saying that "peace of mind is worth more than money." The story quickly gained traction online, with many users hailing it as an inspiring example of choosing faith and simplicity over material success.

However, no credible evidence was provided to support the claims.

What did fact-checkers find?

Fact-checkers investigating the viral post found no records of an IIT Bombay graduate or Google employee matching the description provided in the widely circulated claim.

Searches of publicly available records, alumni databases and credible news reports yielded no evidence that such an individual exists or made the career switch described in the viral post.

Further investigation also established that the image attached to the claim had been lifted from an unrelated source and did not show a person named Vivek Sharma.

The photo wasn't his

One of the biggest red flags was the photograph accompanying the post.

Reverse image searches revealed that the image belonged to another individual and had no connection to the story being circulated. The person's identity had been misrepresented to lend credibility to the fabricated narrative.

Using unrelated images alongside fictional stories is a common tactic employed in viral misinformation campaigns to make false claims appear authentic.

Why do such posts go viral?

Stories that combine prestigious educational institutions, high-paying jobs and dramatic life choices often attract significant engagement on social media.

Claims involving brands like Google and institutions such as IIT Bombay tend to spread rapidly because they evoke strong emotional responses and are frequently shared without verification.

Experts advise users to verify extraordinary claims through credible news organisations or official sources before reposting them.

The importance of verifying viral claims

The fake "Vivek Sharma" story serves as another reminder of how easily misinformation can spread online.

While inspirational stories often resonate with audiences, fabricated narratives can mislead readers and misuse the identities of unrelated individuals.

Users are encouraged to perform basic checks—such as reverse image searches, reviewing credible news coverage and consulting verified fact-checking organisations—before accepting or sharing viral content.

In this case, both the central claim and the photograph used to support it have been proven false, underscoring the need for greater digital literacy in an era of rapidly spreading online misinformation.