An Indian technology professional has captured hearts online after surprising his mother with a special tribute on one of the world’s most famous landmarks — New York City’s Times Square.
Abhijay Arora Vuyyuru, who works at Google in the United States, rented a giant digital billboard to honour his mother and thank her for the sacrifices she made while raising him as a single parent.
A surprise that left his mother emotional
In a video shared on social media, Abhijay called his mother in India and asked her to look at the large screen. Moments later, her photograph appeared alongside his, leaving her visibly surprised and emotional.
He described the moment as one of the most meaningful experiences of his life and a small way of expressing gratitude for everything she had done for him.
A journey marked by setbacks and perseverance
Raised in Panchkula, Haryana, Abhijay said his mother remained his strongest source of support through years of challenges and disappointments.
In 2012, he failed to clear the IIT-JEE entrance examination, a setback that pushed him to work harder and explore alternative paths. After graduating in 2016, he struggled to find employment and received no job offers despite his efforts.
Although he won a hackathon in 2017, he continued facing rejections, including unsuccessful applications to business schools despite taking the GMAT examination three times.
From rejection to success
After moving to the United States, Abhijay faced further difficulties while searching for work under strict visa deadlines. He credits both his mother and wife for supporting him emotionally and financially during that period.
His fortunes changed after he developed an AI-powered résumé tool and built a strong online presence. In 2022, he secured admission to Harvard University, and by 2025, he had joined Google as a Product Manager for YouTube.
Today, he also hosts a podcast featuring leaders in artificial intelligence and has built an online community of more than 600,000 followers.
The touching Times Square tribute has resonated with thousands online, many calling it a beautiful reminder of a mother’s unwavering belief in her child’s dreams.