The landscape of Indian entrepreneurship is filled with tales of ambition, but few are as profoundly inspiring as the story of Shravan Kumar Vishwakarma. The 35-year-old from Kanpur is scripting a narrative that seems lifted from a film: transitioning from driving a tempo on congested city roads to founding and owning a scheduled commercial airline. His venture, Shankh Air, is poised to commence operations in early 2026, marking a phenomenal ascent in the country's aviation sector.
The Humble Beginnings: A Classroom on the Streets
Shravan Kumar Vishwakarma's early life was far from the boardrooms of aviation. Growing up in a middle-class household in Kanpur, formal education held little appeal for him. "I wasn't a keen student," he admits candidly. His real education, he says, came from the bustling urban ecosystem around him. The streets, traffic, buses, and tempos of Kanpur were his classroom, where he learned the practical lessons of life and logistics. Before his big break, he hustled as a loader and tempo driver, earning a modest living. He even drove auto-rickshaws with friends and experimented with several small businesses, facing failures that he chose to view as essential learning experiences.
The Turning Point: Building a Business Empire
The year 2014 proved to be a pivotal turning point in Vishwakarma's life. He entered the cement trade, which subsequently opened doors to the TMT rebar industry. This initial success became the foundation for a gradual yet strategic expansion. He diversified into cement, mining, and transport, meticulously building a fleet of trucks. This venture not only established his credibility in the business community but also generated the crucial capital that would allow him to dream on a much larger scale. For seven years, he consolidated his position in these core industries, setting the stage for an audacious leap.
The Aviation Dream Takes Flight
Approximately four years ago, the seed of an extraordinary idea was planted: to start an airline. "Once I thought about it, I had to learn everything - the rules, the NOC process, how the system worked," Vishwakarma told PTI. The learning curve was steep for someone with a background in road transport, but his determination was unwavering. His efforts have borne fruit with Shankh Air receiving its crucial No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Ministry of Civil Aviation. The airline plans to launch in early 2026 with a fleet of three Airbus aircraft, initially connecting Lucknow to major metropolitan hubs like Delhi and Mumbai.
Vishwakarma's vision for Shankh Air is rooted in accessibility and inclusivity, a perspective shaped by his own journey. "An airplane is just a way to get somewhere, like a bus or a tempo. It shouldn't feel like it's only for a few people," he asserts. This philosophy aims to democratize air travel, making it a more common choice for the average Indian. Reflecting on his incredible journey, he shares that growing up, merely earning a living felt like an achievement. Dreaming of owning an airline was once "almost impossible" to conceive.
A Symbol of Grit and New India's Aspiration
Shravan Kumar Vishwakarma's story is more than a business case; it is a powerful symbol of relentless grit and the transformative potential of ambition in new India. From the bylanes of Kanpur to the runway of a fledgling airline, his path underscores a potent formula: start with whatever you have, persevere through challenges, and allow your dreams to scale unimaginable heights. As Shankh Air prepares for takeoff, it carries with it the aspirations of countless Indians who see in Vishwakarma a reflection of their own potential, waiting to be unlocked.
