Most people in their teens and twenties chase comfort, but for Thyrocare founder Dr A. Velumani, discomfort was the real teacher. The billionaire entrepreneur believes that poverty, struggles, and hardships in your early years aren’t setbacks—they’re investments that pay off for a lifetime. In a recent post on X, he urged young people to embrace challenges rather than shy away from them, saying that discomfort builds qualities that no amount of luxury can teach.
According to Dr Velumani, the real foundations of success—stamina, patience, persuasive skills, focus, frugality, discipline, clarity, wisdom, and courage—are forged in the fires of adversity. Comfort, he warns, can weaken you, while discomfort strengthens your body and mind. He advises parents to think twice before over-pampering their children, and young people to see every difficulty as an opportunity to grow. “It worked for me,” he writes, crediting his own tough youth for the resilience that built his empire.
Dr A. Velumani about parents pampering children
Dr A. Velumani, the founder of Thyrocare, has never been shy about telling parents to stop over-pampering their children. He often uses his own life as an example — and one story from the early 80s drives his point home.
Back then, he had a stable job at BARC with a decent salary, but it wasn’t enough to support his large family. To make extra money, he started taking tuitions. One of his students was the son of a wealthy woman in Shivaji Park, who had already gone through three teachers in a year. Her only request? Keep the boy happy, whatever it took.
Velumani quickly realised the “job” had little to do with academics. His role was to do the child’s homework in his handwriting, eat the snacks meant for the boy so he wouldn’t be “forced” to eat them, and spend most of the time telling him funny stories. The child hated studying, but loved being entertained — and Velumani delivered.
The arrangement paid surprisingly well. His tuition earnings soon surpassed his monthly salary at BARC, and he even enjoyed car pick-ups, hearty snacks, and the chance to polish his English. But the boy learnt nothing. He didn’t even pass his 12th standard. Decades later, Velumani was saddened to see the once-rich family fall into financial trouble. Ironically, his wife ended up offering that same boy — now grown up — a job at Thyrocare.
For Velumani, the lesson is clear: a life filled with comfort in the first half often leads to struggle in the second. He believes real parenting means teaching resilience, discipline, and independence — not shielding children from every challenge. As he puts it, “My mother gave me nothing but freedom."
According to Dr Velumani, the real foundations of success—stamina, patience, persuasive skills, focus, frugality, discipline, clarity, wisdom, and courage—are forged in the fires of adversity. Comfort, he warns, can weaken you, while discomfort strengthens your body and mind. He advises parents to think twice before over-pampering their children, and young people to see every difficulty as an opportunity to grow. “It worked for me,” he writes, crediting his own tough youth for the resilience that built his empire.
Differentiate. You too can.
— Dr. A. Velumani.PhD. (@velumania) August 12, 2025
Unlike the vast majority, if you enjoy poverty, challenges hardships and sufferings in teens it is an investment.
At 20 you would have the power to enjoy every discomfort which brings in the essentials for sure success and prosperity.
Essentials… pic.twitter.com/IJUJM2aP28
Dr A. Velumani about parents pampering children
Dr A. Velumani, the founder of Thyrocare, has never been shy about telling parents to stop over-pampering their children. He often uses his own life as an example — and one story from the early 80s drives his point home.
Back then, he had a stable job at BARC with a decent salary, but it wasn’t enough to support his large family. To make extra money, he started taking tuitions. One of his students was the son of a wealthy woman in Shivaji Park, who had already gone through three teachers in a year. Her only request? Keep the boy happy, whatever it took.
Velumani quickly realised the “job” had little to do with academics. His role was to do the child’s homework in his handwriting, eat the snacks meant for the boy so he wouldn’t be “forced” to eat them, and spend most of the time telling him funny stories. The child hated studying, but loved being entertained — and Velumani delivered.
This tweet and the pics reminded me my luck in early 80s. Thanks to @howto9to5
— Dr. A. Velumani.PhD. (@velumania) May 6, 2025
I had a BARC job, good salary but was not enough to support my big family back home.
I wanted to send more money home and wanted to earn more by doing tuitions while working in BARC.
A filthy rich… https://t.co/Mi5mkR6ocT pic.twitter.com/mkAgrqVXtz
The arrangement paid surprisingly well. His tuition earnings soon surpassed his monthly salary at BARC, and he even enjoyed car pick-ups, hearty snacks, and the chance to polish his English. But the boy learnt nothing. He didn’t even pass his 12th standard. Decades later, Velumani was saddened to see the once-rich family fall into financial trouble. Ironically, his wife ended up offering that same boy — now grown up — a job at Thyrocare.
For Velumani, the lesson is clear: a life filled with comfort in the first half often leads to struggle in the second. He believes real parenting means teaching resilience, discipline, and independence — not shielding children from every challenge. As he puts it, “My mother gave me nothing but freedom."
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