Chirag Jain - July 2025 Edition 26 - The Entrepreneurs of India

Student Gallery was never a boardroom-inspired startup. It was the product of purpose, determination, and a grounded commitment to solving real-world problems. The brand started as a humble operation in Guwahati way back in 2001, constructed by Mr. Subhash Jain—a textile guru whose obsession with quality sparked an unexpected turning point. Delhi Public School, Guwahati, approached him for feedback on their school uniforms. What began as a simple consultation quickly evolved. Word spread. Schools started reaching out. One conversation laid the foundation for a brand that now serves over a million students annually.

At first, it was a one-time consult. However, the integrity and understanding Jain brought to the table resonated deeply. Schools began trusting Student Gallery—not because of slick presentations, but because of personal commitment. Subhash personally visited institutions, spending time understanding the personality and culture of each before designing customized solutions. By 2004, Student Gallery had organically expanded to Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. Then came West Bengal and Odisha. Every new region emerged through word of mouth—no marketing blitz, no pitch decks—just real relationships and consistent delivery.

In 2007, long before digital accountability was mainstream, the company introduced a Smart Card system to track student purchases. Parents received SMS alerts every time their child made a transaction. It was a small step that built enormous trust—proof that the brand cared as much about transparency and security as it did about products.

Demand kept growing. In 2015, Student Gallery established a massive manufacturing facility in Kolkata with over 250 machines—one of the largest for school uniforms in Eastern India. The operation now had the muscle to match its mission.

Then came the storm. In 2019, just before the pandemic hit, Subhash’s son, Chirag Jain, joined the company. At just 21, he was a new graduate beginning his stint in Mumbai. But as COVID-19 shut down the nation, schools closed. Retailers withdrew. Warehouses were overloaded. Chirag rushed back to Guwahati. That’s when the real test began.

He led from the front—personally hand-packing and delivering school kits, securing emergency passes, and keeping a lean team operational through nights of uncertainty. Under his leadership, Student Gallery successfully delivered book sets and essential learning kits to over 50,000 students across Northeast India, even as the rest of the world came to a halt.

But in the middle of this logistical marathon came a moment that changed everything.

While visiting a flood-struck village in Assam, Chirag met a mother who said something that would stay with him forever:“Education will not land food on our table.”

That sentence broke something inside him—and rebuilt something stronger. It was no longer just about logistics. That moment reframed the mission. Chirag wasn’t just moving supplies anymore. He was stepping into the role of a mission builder, determined to restore dignity, hope, and access where it had been lost.

Today, as Managing Director, he’s reshaping Student Gallery from the inside out—transforming not just its operations but its very identity within the education ecosystem. From bamboo-based uniforms that use 85% less water to distributing digital tablets for tribal students who can’t commute to school, the brand’s every move is tied to dignity, access, and long-term sustainability.

Student Gallery now reaches over 1 million students across more than 100 schools and colleges. They’re present in 8 states, operate 18+ retail outlets, have a growing online platform, and work with over 150 publishers. They’ve delivered NCERT books to remote corners of Assam, built sporting infrastructure, enhanced classroom environments, and even launched mental wellness initiatives in educational campuses. None of this came from chasing growth. It came from solving problems that mattered.

Their impact hasn’t gone unnoticed. Student Gallery is an MHRD-empanelled vendor and holds ISO certification. Under Chirag’s leadership, the brand has earned national acclaim for its impact. He was named one of India’s Top 30 Under 30 Entrepreneurs, recognized by both Business Mint and Business Outreach for his work in building equitable, scalable education infrastructure. He also received the Youth Social Impact Award for his COVID-19 response efforts. Chirag has since represented the mission at global education forums in Singapore, Dubai, and beyond—amplifying the idea that real change often begins far from the spotlight.

But for Chirag, the journey isn’t about milestones—it’s about meaning.

He is now preparing for an MBA, with plans to expand the Student Gallery model to Southeast Asia and Africa. He envisions launching an EdTech fund and eventually taking the company public. “I want to build something that outlives me,” he says.

From the very beginning, Student Gallery was never just about books and bags. It was—and still is—about giving kids the chance to dream, no matter where they’re born.

“If a child in the remotest village can dream of becoming a scientist, artist, or changemaker, and that dream survives because of something you built—that’s what being an entrepreneur means.”