An IIM graduate’s heartwarming gesture for his parents has struck an emotional chord with social media users. The management professional travelled all the way to Pune with a singular, nostalgic mission: to hand over his first post-MBA salary to his parents entirely in cash. The idea struck him after a conversation with his father about how digitalisation has wiped away the tactile tradition of gifting one’s first physical paycheck. Deciding to recreate that priceless memory, he bypassed digital bank transfers to give his mother and father a tangible token of his gratitude, sparking widespread praise online.
“Flew to Pune just for this soul(not just sole) purpose,” Ashwajeet Kamble wrote on Instagram. He explained how he came up with the idea of handing over his salary in cash to his parents.
Also Read: Friends with ‘IIT Kharagpur and IIM Bangalore on CVs’ leave US company to start Bengaluru cafe
“A few months ago me and my dad were discussing how he gave his first cash salary to his parents… and also how things have been digitalised now-a-days and we can’t do the same anymore.”
Kamble added, “So I thought why not do this, as a memory for them. Because afterall… What I am is all because of them.
He ended the post by sharing, “Ik this is technically not my first salary, but this is my first salary ‘after IIM’.. so it counts .. right??”
What did social media say?
An individual posted, “It’s good that you choose cash over transfer, feel, touch of money, not everyone will understand.” Another commented, “As a mother and a daughter, I can understand your and your mom’s feelings. God bless.”
A third expressed, “Without money, also aunty’s reaction will be the same….son is here to meet her.” A fourth wrote, “Every son waits for this moment when he knows earning is not easy.”
A few mentioned his brother, who is seen in the video. Kamble, in a chat with Hindustantimes.com, also shared details about his elder brother’s journey.
“One aspect that may add more depth to the story is my family’s journey over the past few years. The person visible in the video is my elder brother, who recently cleared the UPSC examination and secured a position in the Indian Forest Service (IFS),” he said, adding, “His success came after nearly six years of relentless hard work, perseverance, and multiple attempts. Throughout this period, he wasn’t earning, which often made him feel pressured as the elder sibling. However, my parents and I continuously supported and encouraged him to stay focused on his goal.”
He continued, “On my side, while I was employed, my salary was quite modest in the initial years. Since my father was the primary financial provider for the family, I tried to contribute in whatever way I could by taking up freelance work and side projects. These included video editing, 3D design, and developing engineering projects.
While talking about the now-viral video he shared, “Looking back, the video represents much more than a salary handover… it reflects years of sacrifices, mutual support, and the belief we had in each other’s dreams. Seeing my brother finally achieve his goal and become an IFS officer made the moment even more meaningful for all of us.”
