'If I said yes...': Why a Delhi IIT graduate from Bihar left a campus job to turn singer-songwriter. Who is Deepanshu Raj (Iqlipse Nova)?

A secure campus placement at IIT Delhi is the kind of opportunity many students dream about. But for Deepanshu Raj, who grew up in Bihar, accepting a well-paying corporate job meant risking the dream he had carried for years. In 2021, during his final year at IIT Delhi, Raj faced a choice between a safe career and music. He ultimately turned down the job and chose to pursue music and content creation, a decision he says changed his life completely and reshaped his career.

Who is Deepanshu Raj (Iqlipse Nova)?

Iqlipse Nova, also known as Deepanshu Raj, is an Indian singer-songwriter and former IITian from Bihar who is now based in Mumbai. Known for his versatility, he explores genres including Indie, Hip-Hop and Pop, creating music built around simplicity and emotion. His songs have appeared on Spotify’s viral songs charts and have featured in millions of Instagram reels, contributing to his growing digital presence.

Today, Iqlipse Nova is emerging as one of India’s promising musical voices, with ambitions that extend beyond the Indian music scene.

Why did Deepanshu Raj turn down an IIT Delhi job?

In an old social media post, Raj opened up about the decision that changed the direction of his life. He recalled that in 2021, during his final year at IIT Delhi, he received a campus placement from what he described as “a good company” offering a safe future. It was the kind of opportunity that, according to Raj, most people would accept without thinking twice. But he paused. “Because deep down, I knew — I don’t want this!” he wrote.

For Raj, the decision was not simply about rejecting a job. It was about recognising that a conventional corporate career was not the path he wanted to follow.

The lesson he learned from his seniors

Raj said his decision was also influenced by what he had observed among some of his seniors at college. He remembered seeing talented dancers, singers and creators who were passionate about their craft but had taken corporate jobs with the intention of pursuing their dreams later. Their plan was simple: take the job for a year, save some money and then do what they loved.

But according to Raj, that year often never ended. “Comfort turned into routine,” he wrote, while passion gradually faded into the background. That observation made him question whether postponing his own dream was a risk he was willing to take.

Corporate job or music career?

Raj found himself facing two clear choices: accept the campus placement and enter corporate life, or take a chance on music and content creation. He chose the latter. “I chose music and content creation,” Raj wrote. The decision was far from easy. He acknowledged that turning down a good job offer was scary, particularly when it offered financial security and a predictable career path. But Raj feared that saying yes to the job could eventually make it harder for him to pursue what he genuinely wanted. “I knew if I said yes to that job, I might never say yes to myself again,” he wrote.

‘Some dreams are bigger than fear’

Raj said his decision was among the hardest he had ever made. He faced questions from other people and also questioned himself along the way. Still, he continued pursuing music. Looking back, he framed the decision as a choice between fear and ambition. Raj wrote that some dreams are “bigger than fear” and that some risks are “worth everything.”

His journey from IIT Delhi to music reflects the career choice he had described in his post: rather than postponing his passion for an uncertain future, he decided to take the risk while he still had the opportunity.

From IIT Delhi graduate to Iqlipse Nova

The decision eventually became a defining part of Raj’s professional journey. As Iqlipse Nova, he has built a presence across streaming platforms and social media, blending Indie, Hip-Hop and Pop. His music has gained traction on Spotify’s viral songs charts, while his tracks have been used in millions of Instagram reels. For Raj, the decision to reject a conventional corporate path was ultimately about more than choosing a profession. It was about refusing to let the comfort of a secure job push his creative ambitions into an indefinite “one day” future.