IIM graduate recreates father's first-salary tradition for his parents. It's wholesome
An IIM graduate surprised his parents with cash and a watch bought from his first salary. The video drew an emotional response online as viewers connected it with gratitude, sacrifice and a child's first milestone.
His mother looked at the cash in her hands, then at her son, struggling to believe what she was seeing. Moments earlier, the IIM graduate had asked his parents to close their eyes. What followed was a first-salary surprise that has now melted hearts online.
Ashwajeet Kamble, who recently graduated from IIM, shared the video on Instagram, explaining that the idea came from a conversation with his father. Recalling the discussion, he said his father had spoken about handing over his first salary in cash to his own parents years ago.
“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 wrote.
Wanting to recreate that experience, he decided to withdraw his salary and present it to his parents in person. In the now-viral clip, he surprises them with cash and a watch, capturing a heartfelt reaction that struck a chord with social media users.
Explaining the thought behind the gesture, Kamble said he wanted to create a memory for his parents. “What I am is all because of them,” he wrote.
Watch the video:
Kamble's own journey was far from easy. Before graduating from IIM, he worked with a modest salary and tried to ease the financial burden on his father, who remained the family's primary breadwinner. To contribute, he took on freelance assignments ranging from video editing and 3D design to engineering projects.
The video has since drawn thousands of reactions online. While many praised Kamble's gesture, others said the story was a reminder that behind every milestone lies years of family support, unseen sacrifices and a collective effort to help one another succeed.