'IITian Baba': Aerospace Engineer To Viral Spiritual Speaker Gains Attention At Maha Kumbh 2025

The Maha Kumbh 2025 began in Prayagraj with a large gathering of devotees and saints, including Abhay Singh, now known as "IITian Baba" as his videos have gone viral on social media.

File Photo of 'IITian Baba' Abhay Singh | Prayagraj: Naga Sadhus of Shri Panchayati Niranjani Akhada arrive to take a holy dip during the first 'Amrit Snan' at the Mahakumbh on the Makar Sankranti festival, at Sangam in Prayagraj, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025.

Source : X/@rashtradev | PTI

The Maha Kumbh 2025 commenced in Prayagraj with a massive turnout of devotees and saints taking the sacred dip on Makar Sankranti. Among the spiritual figures drawing attention at the grand event is Abhay Singh, popularly known as Gorakh Baba or "IITian Baba," whose journey from engineering to asceticism has captivated social media users and devotees alike.  

According to Abhay Singh, a Haryana native, he studied aerospace engineering at IIT Bombay. He received the moniker "IITian Baba" for his academic background and fluent English communication. In an interview with CNN News18, he revealed, “After pursuing engineering, I ventured into travel photography. I went to Arts from engineering...However, sustaining myself was challenging without a steady job, so I taught physics at a coaching institute for a year.”  

He said his struggles with engineering and travel photography led him to want to Dharamshala to "explore the basics" of life. 

Abhay's path eventually led him away from worldly pursuits toward spiritual enlightenment. Speaking about his transformation, he said, “Knowledge is a never-ending pursuit, but ultimately, there’s nothing better than this path.”  

“I now understand that this is real knowledge. If you have to understand the mind or mental health, then you can do it (through spirituality)," he told News18.

Before embracing ascetic life, Gorakh Baba said he delved into various fields and took philosophy courses including Post-Modernism, he studied Socrates and Plato to “understand the meaning of life". He has resided at different religious sites, including Kashi and Rishikesh, over the last four months. Now, he travels frequently to India’s holy Char Dhams.  

'IITian Baba' Viral On Social Media  

Gorakh Baba’s presence at the Kumbh Mela has made waves online. Videos showcasing his views on freedom and life, delivered in fluent English, have gone viral. In the viral videos, he is seen talking about the concepts of a formless god, spirituality, and forms of energy.

अभय सिंह IIT बॉम्बे से पढ़े एयरोस्पेस इंजीनियर, जो हाल ही में कुंभ में अपनी आध्यात्मिक यात्रा के कारण सोशल मिडिया पर इस समय जबरदस्त वायरल हैं।
अभय सिंह नियमित रूप से अपने इंस्टाग्राम अकाउंट पर अपनी आध्यात्मिक यात्रा के वीडियो पोस्ट करते हैं
यहाँ उनके कुछ वीडियो संलग्न हैँ pic.twitter.com/7wLVuvifNU

— राष्ट्रदेव (@rashtradev) January 14, 2025

Many social media users have shared their reactions to his journey. Reacting to a video of his interview, one user commented, “Abhay Singh’s story highlights the growing unemployment crisis and its impact on youth mental health.” Another user remarked, “It’s not material possessions but inner peace that truly satisfies, much like Prince Siddhartha’s journey to becoming the Buddha.”  

The Kumbh Mela began on 13 January and will continue until Maha Shivratri on 26 February.