Pawan Kalyan’s life was normal till class 3. That year, however, everything changed. A boy who once dreaded going to school began to look forward to it. He discovered that mathematics was not as complicated as he thought. Most importantly, he began to dream of a bright future for himself.
The change came as a result of his school being adopted by the Tranquil Charitable Foundation (TCF) – an NGO dedicated to improving educational conditions.
Government schools were suffering from poor infrastructure and lack of teachers. It was on Srinivasan N’s morning jogging route, where he saw the challenges these children face every day. Growing up in Mumbai’s Chawal, Srinivasan understood well the hardships faced by underprivileged children.
Concerned for the students, he shared their plight with his friends, Sriram Viswanathan and Srinivasa Padmanabharao. United by their belief in the transformative power of education – something they had experienced firsthand – they were determined to make a difference in the lives of students at Gubbalala Upper Primary School.
Together, they formed TCF and formally adopted the school under the Karnataka Government’s ‘Shale Dattu Yojana’ scheme.
Over the past 15 years, the school and its students have experienced significant change. Upgradation of infrastructure, recruitment of additional teachers and appointment of academic director are included to ensure quality education. Additionally, the foundation provides financial assistance and support for students above grade 7 – although the school caters to students from grades 1 to 7.
As a result, student enrollment in Kannada medium schools increased from 73 to 260. The foundation supports more than 125 alumni in pursuing higher education through after-school classes, mentoring and financial aid.
“If TCF had not come into my life, I would have studied only up to class 10,” says Pawan, who is now pursuing his PhD in Physics from PES University in Bengaluru.
Turning adversity into opportunity: A life of purpose
Born and brought up in Mumbai, Srinivasan grew up in Chawal until the age of 12 and attended a government-aided school. Now, co-founder and managing trustee of TCF, he explains Uttam India“Early in life, I realized that education is the way forward. It is a foolproof way to break the shackles of poverty.”
He had other plans in life. At the age of 17, he lost his father and was unable to fulfill his dream of a master’s degree. Taking on the role of breadwinner, he started working to support his family. In search of a better life, he moved to the Middle East at 26, where he quickly climbed the corporate ladder. At 40, he held a prestigious position in a car rental company, enjoying the fast-paced ‘Dubai’ lifestyle.
However, something was wrong, Srinivasan said. “Doing good was always in the back of my head and as I saw it, I had two options: earn more money in the Middle East or return home to do something purposeful,” he adds.
At the age of 42, he resigned from his comfortable job and returned to Bengaluru. There Sriram and Srinivas met Padmanabharao at his apartment complex. Sriram, a co-founder and trustee, is an engineer and MBA graduate with 15 years of experience at Intel in California. Like him, he returned to Bengaluru in search of a purpose. Srinivasa Padmanabharao, another co-founder and mentor, holds an engineering degree and an MBA from IIM Calcutta.
It was during a game of tennis that the three decided to establish TCF!
Transforming the school experience with enhanced facilities and support
The first thing the foundation did after taking over the school was to create a better environment for the students. “We renovated classrooms and built a library, toilets, gardens and computer labs. We have made it a better place for students,” says Srinivasan.
To enhance learning and adopt different teaching methods, they appointed an educational director, Akhila Radhakrishnan, eight qualified teachers and volunteers. As a result, the children began to enjoy their classes. “We maintain a 1:10 teacher-student ratio,” he informed.
“Everyone used to tell us that mathematics is a very difficult subject, which causes mental block and fear. A volunteer from TCF comes two or three times a week and teaches math in a simple way. It made me like the subject,’ says Pawan.
Volunteers help students to clear their doubts and provide extra tutoring after school hours when needed. According to the managing trustee, this support has helped prevent dropouts.
In order to instill a sense of responsibility, the school has a system of ‘Minister Parishad’ elected in each class, who are responsible for maintaining cleanliness. Committed to sustainability, the school organizes zero-waste programs to teach children about environmental stewardship, avoiding balloons and plastic.
The school also emphasizes extracurricular activities for holistic development, aiming to provide students with an education similar to that of private schools.
Although significant progress was made for students up to grade 7, challenges persisted as they transitioned to other schools. Dropouts continued, especially among girls who often married early, and many students struggled to find quality high schools or colleges.
To address this, the Trust has appointed Shyamala Manikandan as an Honorary Alumni Director as its Director and in a sense becomes the guardian of these children even after they graduate from the school. “We started an after-school program for our former students. Part-time teachers conduct special classes on the weekends for students in grades 8 through 12. We provide them with all the tools they need to succeed. We have partnered with local high schools to ensure a smooth transition, ” adds Srinivasan.
The foundation also covers students’ college fees, provides laptops for their studies, and more. Thanks to these efforts, many students have completed their graduation. Some have become engineers, some are training to become chartered accountants or entering finance, some are doing MBBS, and Pawan is working towards a doctorate. Many have completed industrial training and are now working in reputed organizations.
When students reach 7th grade, the alumni director discusses their preferred high schools and helps arrange admissions. By Class 10, students receive career counseling and are asked to select their top three colleges, with TCF helping them secure placements. The foundation also provides personalized tutoring in subjects such as mathematics, science, economics, statistics, business studies, computer skills and English to support students after school hours.
Breaking the cycle: Education as a pathway out of poverty
“We want to break the shackles of poverty. A house daughter should not follow her mother’s profession. He should do what he wants, and education is the only way to do it,” asserts Srinivasan.
Pawan’s mother works as a domestic worker, and his father is a driver. He is the first person in his family to complete class 10th. Had it not been for their guidance, I probably would have become a driver like my father after class 10. They helped me every step of the way, from choosing a college to paying fees,” he says.
Today, Pawan teaches science and mathematics to 60 students and alumni of the school after his college days. “This gratitude is heartwarming,” says Srinivasan. Over the past 15 years, more than 1,000 students have graduated, and many donate their first paycheck to the foundation as a gesture of thanks.
The foundation hopes to inspire others to adopt nearby government schools and help more students reach their full potential.
If you would like to support the Trust, you can make a donation here. To learn more about their work, click here here.
Edited by Pranita Bhat; Images courtesy Srinivasan N