It all began right after my 10th examinations in 2013. I still remember the excitement of getting my first laptop and setting up a BSNL DSL connection at home. That moment opened up an entirely new world for me, the world of the internet. Like any curious teenager, I started exploring everything I could find online. Among the many things that caught my attention, blogging stood out as something truly fascinating.
At first, blogging was just for fun. I used to write about social topics, bits of literature, and anything that felt interesting at the moment. I didn’t have any serious goals behind it. It was simply the joy of writing and sharing my thoughts with the world. But soon, my focus started to shift. I became more curious about how the blog itself looked – the design, the layout, and how everything worked behind the scenes.
That curiosity changed everything. I began exploring the XML structure of Blogger templates. I started tweaking the HTML, experimenting with CSS, and even trying out bits of JavaScript. I downloaded free templates from the web and spent hours redesigning and customizing them to look better. Without even realizing it, I was learning the core of web development. Those nights spent adjusting colors, testing layouts, and debugging broken scripts were the foundation of my journey into the digital world.
Gradually, I moved from writing social blogs to something I found more exciting – technology. I began writing tech articles, reviews of software and apps, and internet tips and hacks. It felt natural because I was genuinely passionate about technology and loved sharing what I learned. By the time I reached Plus One in 2014, I had switched to writing Malayalam tech blogs. That move turned out to be a breakthrough. My blogs started gaining attention in various Facebook groups and online communities. Seeing my views cross thousands was a thrilling experience.
There were days I wrote until 4 a.m., completely lost in the flow of blogging and web design. It was more than just a hobby; it had become a part of my identity. Through blogging, I met so many like-minded people online. Facebook was like a virtual workspace where I connected with tech enthusiasts, bloggers, and designers. Those friendships and discussions helped me grow even faster.
Looking back, blogging was my first real step into the digital world – not just as a writer, but as a web developer and digital marketer. I learned about SEO, keywords, meta descriptions, and how search engines worked. I created thumbnails for my blogs and social posts, tested headlines, and watched how changes impacted views. Every small thing I learned back then still helps me today.
It’s been over eleven years since those early blogging days, but that period shaped everything that followed. Blogging didn’t just teach me how to write – it taught me how to build, create, and connect. It was the true starting point of my journey into the world of technology and creativity.
From a Hostel Room Idea
Back in 2015, when we were part of the very first batch of KTU at MEA Engineering College, Perinthalmanna, something special was born inside Room 329 of our hostel. What started as casual discussions soon turned into a project, we built a small Blogger site called ktustudents.in. The idea was simple: make academic life a little easier by providing notes, syllabi, and question papers in one place.
The Power of a Team
The journey of ktustudents.in was powered by a small but passionate team from our hostel. Ahammed Jouhar, with his problem-solving mindset, often took the lead in structuring ideas and keeping the project moving forward. Ahmed Salih AC played a crucial role as the developer, later building and launching the Android app that took the platform to the next level. Amjad Shibli contributed his tech and coding skills, ensuring the flow of content and resources reached students effectively. Inzamam was always the connector, helping us expand our reach and keeping the spirit alive within the college community. Shehil Abdulla for creative side, Hamid KC, Khais KC and many of our hostel-mates and friends helped and guided us in many aspects and situations. And I, Shahari, focused on the technical and coordination, making sure all the pieces came together. Together, in Room 329 of MEA Engineering College hostel, we complemented each other’s strengths and created something far beyond what any one of us could have built alone.
Recognition Beyond Expectations
At first, it was just a student experiment. But soon, the site began spreading across colleges and quickly became a lifeline for many. The recognition surprised us, our website was even featured on the official KTU University website, and we received a special mention from the Pro Vice-Chancellor of the University. For a group of hostel students with limited resources, that moment felt huge.
App Release
The journey didn’t stop there. By 2017, we wanted to take it a step further and decided to launch an Android app. The app was developed by our friend Ahmed Salih AC, and with little prior experience, we faced countless hurdles. But determination kept us going. We chose the IEDC Summit at Adlux Convention Centre, Angamaly as our launch day. The night before, in a small hotel room in Angamaly, we stayed up all night fixing bugs and finalizing the app. By morning, against all odds, it went live on the Google Play Store. That overnight hustle remains one of our proudest memories.
10K+ App Downloads
The app quickly gained traction after launch, crossing 10,000 downloads on the Play Store and receiving overwhelmingly positive feedback from students. It wasn’t just numbers, the reviews and messages from users showed us that what we built in limited time and resources was genuinely helping thousands of learners. That encouragement kept us motivated to keep improving.
First Taste of Entrepreneurship
The project also opened doors to collaborations, and for the first time, we stepped into the world of digital entrepreneurship. The day we received our first cheque from Google AdSense was unforgettable. That simple piece of paper symbolized more than just money, it was proof that our idea had real impact and reach. We even made a decent income from it and earned a reputation in our college community as “the guys behind ktustudents.in.”
Back to EdTech Again
Over the years, life moved on and we explored other projects. But the spirit of creating something from nothing stayed with us. After the post-Corona shift in education, we found ourselves drawn back into EdTech. Today, our entire tech team is working together again, channeling that same hostel-room energy into building and experimenting with new learning solutions through TRIZ Learning.
The Journey Continues
From Room 329 at MEA Engineering College to recognition, revenue, and now to a new chapter in EdTech, the journey has always been about learning, building, and pushing boundaries. This is just one chapter of our journey, more stories, memories, and milestones will be shared soon. Stay tuned!
I’ve been building versions of my personal website since my college days. Back then, it was more of a sandbox than a portfolio. I tried out whatever tech stack I was learning, tweaked designs endlessly, and kept telling myself that I’d launch it “soon” as soon as it looked perfect
It never did.
Years passed. I built dozens of websites and platforms for clients, startups, and side projects. Some scaled. Some faded. All of them taught me something. But when it came to building my own space online, I kept falling into the same trap: perfectionism.
Until now.
The Shift: From Perfection to Progress
This version of my website, shahari.me/, is built on a decision I made recently: Start with imperfection.
Not because I gave up on aesthetics or clean code (those still matter to me deeply), but because I realized I was optimizing for the wrong outcome. I was waiting to feel “ready.” I was prioritizing polish over presence. And that meant I was silent.
This site is my attempt to show up. Imperfectly, consistently, and as honestly as possible.
What This Website Is (and Isn’t)
This isn’t a glossy agencystyle portfolio with pixelperfect case studies and carefully crafted value props. That’s intentional.
This website is:
A personal journal for thoughts on tech, products, and startups a living log of what I’m learning, building, and thinking, a place to share unfinished ideas, frameworks, reflections, my digital front porch, if you’re curious, stop by and read
This website isn’t:
A curated highlight reel, A sales funnel, A resume
Of course, my work and experience show up here, but not as a polished brochure. More like context, conversation, and code that keeps evolving.
Why Write?
Because writing is how I process. Because I often figure out what I think by trying to write it down. Because some of my best dev breakthroughs have started as notes I scribbled to myself.
I want this site to capture those moments.
Also, I’ve spent enough time in the startup and tech ecosystem to know this: We all benefit from more builders sharing what they actually experience. Not just success stories, but honest breakdowns of how things were built, fixed, failed, shipped.
So that’s what I’ll try to do here.
What I’ll Share
You can expect thoughts and journalstyle posts on:
I might also write about lifestyle, focus, mental models, and some of the quieter parts of the journey.
Behind the Build
Techwise? It’s intentionally simple. Just handpicked a Template kit.
No fancy animations or JavaScriptheavy stacks
Clean, fastloading, readable
Markdownbased blogging setup
Focused more on content than containers
I didn’t want to spend three weeks picking fonts or comparing static site generators. I wanted to ship.
And now that it’s live, I can actually improve it, instead of dreaming about it.
What Took Me So Long
Honestly? Overthinking.
As a developer, it’s easy to keep rewriting your own tools. As someone who’s worked closely with earlystage startups, I’ve seen how much time we waste waiting to launch the “better version.”
But the better version rarely arrives unless we release the first one.
This site is a reminder to myself: Done is better than perfect. Especially when the goal is connection, not control.
You’ll Find Me Here
I’ll be writing here. Maybe weekly, maybe less. I’m not committing to a rigid schedule. I’m committing to showing up.
I’ll write what I would want to stumble upon at 2AM while googling some obscure edge case, or doubting my product instincts, or wondering if other people feel this messy while building.
That’s who this site is for: builders, dreamers, thinkers, tinkerers.
People like me.
And maybe people like you.
So welcome. Thanks for visiting.
Let’s keep building.
— Shahari