India, Dec. 21 -- A LinkedIn post by Rohan Verma, CEO and co-founder of Breathe Well-being, has sparked a discussion online about privilege, merit and the role of luck in shaping life outcomes.

In his post, Verma argued that educational pedigree and family background play a decisive role in determining future success. He claimed that those who attend elite institutions such as Ivy League universities or India's IITs and IIMs are far more likely to see their children enter top colleges and corporate leadership roles, while people engaged in low-paid or manual labour largely come from poor families, irrespective of talent or hard work.

"If you went to an Ivy League or the IIT/IIM route, your kids will likely attend a good college. And the...