IIT Baba, who left Rs 36 LPA job for spirituality, gets married to Bengaluru techie. Who is Abhay Singh?

Abhay Singh, widely recognised as the monk with an elite engineering background, has recently entered married life in Himachal Pradesh, marking a new chapter in his unconventional journey. Known popularly as “IIT Baba” due to his academic roots at Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Singh reportedly married Preetika, an engineering graduate, earlier this year. Although the ceremony took place months ago, information about the union surfaced only recently.

Return to Roots After Marriage

According to media reports, Abhay Singh travelled back to his ancestral village in Jhajjar on Monday, accompanied by his wife. Dressed in his signature saffron attire, he interacted briefly with journalists and explained that the visit was primarily to seek his parents’ blessings. He also mentioned attending to certain banking formalities during his stay, highlighting a practical aspect of his otherwise spiritual lifestyle.

Wedding Ceremony and Timeline

As Abhay Singh shared with reporters, the marriage rituals were conducted at the revered Aghanjhar Mahadev Temple during the auspicious occasion of Maha Shivratri. Following the traditional ceremony, the couple completed legal formalities through a registered court marriage on February 19. Reports, including one by the Lokmat Times, state that Preetika originally belongs to Bengaluru.

Vision for a Spiritual-Educational Institution

Speaking about his future aspirations, Abhay Singh revealed plans to establish an institution named “Shri University.” He described the project as an effort to merge academic education with spiritual discipline. According to him, the proposed university would not only offer conventional subjects but also incorporate teachings related to meditation and various forms of spiritual practice. He stressed that clarity of purpose would be central to the institution’s foundation.

From Engineering to Enlightenment

Abhay Singh’s journey has been anything but ordinary. Originally from Haryana, he pursued aerospace engineering at IIT Bombay before shifting his academic focus toward design studies at the postgraduate level. His career then took him abroad, where he spent around three years working in Canada, earning a lucrative salary reportedly amounting to ₹36 lakh per annum.

However, as he has previously acknowledged, his time overseas was marked by personal struggles, particularly with mental health challenges. These experiences led him to reflect deeply on life’s purpose and the workings of the human mind. Eventually, he chose to leave behind his corporate career and embrace a path rooted in spirituality.

Rise to Public Attention

Abhay Singh gained widespread recognition during the Mahakumbh Mela 2025, where he was seen in traditional ascetic attire. His transformation from a highly educated engineer to a spiritual seeker captured public curiosity, making him a widely discussed figure across the country.