EXCLUSIVE: 'Super 30' to expand via virtual mode, says Anand Kumar

In an exclusive interview with ETV Bharat's Regional News Co-ordinator Sachin Sharma, Indian Mathematics educator Anand Kumar informed that the 'Super 30' programme is likely to expand its strength through virtual mode by connecting with more underprivileged students in the coming months keeping in mind the Covid situation.

Hyderabad: 'Super 30' founder and Indian mathematics educator Anand Kumar said that he will be expanding his teaching programme by connecting with the underprivileged students through virtual mode in the coming months keeping in mind the Covid situation. Anand Kumar is best known for his 'Super 30' programme, which he started in Patna in 2002. He coaches underprivileged students free of cost for JEE-Advanced, the entrance examination for the IITs.

In an exclusive interaction with ETV Bharat, Anand Kumar spoke about various issues related to his teaching programme and personal life. On being asked why he chose to run the 'Super 30' programme and why did not think of teaching more than 30 students, he said that he planned to expand his programme but amid the Covid crisis, all plans were held up.

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"After watching Hrithik Roshan-starrer 'Super 30', expectations of many people started rising as they wanted their children to join my programme. I also thought of expanding the strength of students but due to Covid got held up. In the coming months, I will try to reach to many more children who need my teachings through online classes," he stated.

Anand Kumar went on to add that he could only sponsor the education of 30 children despite financial constraints. Anand said, "I took the responsibility of teaching 30 poor children. My family also supported me in teaching them. My mother used to arrange for their meals and my brother also helped me in teaching the students who were willing to get admitted to the top engineering institutes of the country but were having weak financial background."

He also talked about the importance of music by saying that everyone should remain connected with music as it is a universal healer and has the strength to solve many problems. "In current times, children are busy with mobile phones following which they are becoming increasingly irritated each day. Children should connect with music as it clams the minds and boosts energy," Anand Kumar said.

Anand Kumar also got emotional while sharing about his initial struggles in life. He said that after the death of his father, his family went into huge troubles and they started facing a financial crunch.

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"We used to remain worried each day that how we will survive if our 'papads' were not sold but I did not give up. My condition was very bad. I also could not go to the University of Cambridge due to financial constraints. It was my father's dream to see me as a teacher and I kept it alive. I was determined that if I will work hard everything will turn good. My father had made me learn this fact," Anand said.

Talking about his personal life, Anand Kumar said he was curious about things related to science and maths right from his childhood days. Anand said, "We used to live in a small one and a half room house near Goriya Math which was next to a railway station. Whenever a train passes, it seems to felt like an earthquake. When I was in 6th standard, I tried to decorate my house with light bulbs but as soon as I connected it with electricity, the entire locality faced a power cut. The incident scared me this much that left all my things and ran away. I was curious about things related to science and maths and I used to focus on minute details."

Talking about his letter of admission to the University of Cambridge, Anand Kumar said, "I had received the letter from Cambridge in 1993 which invited me to join the university in 1994. Many people are confused about the joining dates. I also made the letter public." Speaking about his married life with Ritu Rashmi, Anand said that everyone raises questions about marriage and cast but he believes that it does not make any sense. "People should not discriminate between castes in the society," he added.

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