Anand Kumar began the Ramanujan School of Mathematics in 1992 with a simple idea: make mathematics accessible to those who wanted to learn.
What started with a few mathematics students in 1992 eventually grew into a journey that changed the lives of hundreds of aspiring IITians. Anand Kumar began the Ramanujan School of Mathematics with a focus on making mathematics accessible to students who wanted to learn. His journey, however, was shaped by financial hardship and an opportunity he could not pursue.
In 1994, Kumar received an opportunity to study at Cambridge University. But financial constraints forced him to give up the opportunity. The setback changed the direction of his life. Instead of moving away from education, Kumar began focusing more closely on students who, like him, had talent and ambition but lacked the financial resources to pursue their dreams.
The Beginning
Kumar’s work started with mathematics and teaching. The Ramanujan School of Mathematics became an important part of his early educational journey, giving students an opportunity to learn the subject in an accessible environment.
His own experience had shown him how financial circumstances could affect a student’s educational opportunities. The Cambridge opportunity remained out of reach because of financial hardship, but the experience also influenced the way he viewed education and access.
Rather than allowing that setback to end his engagement with mathematics, Kumar continued teaching. His focus gradually moved towards students who had the ability to pursue higher education but did not have the money required for expensive preparation.
From Mathematics Classes To Super 30
This focus eventually led to the creation of Super 30, an initiative aimed at helping economically disadvantaged students prepare for the IIT-JEE.
Under the programme, selected students received free coaching, food and accommodation while preparing for the competitive examination. The approach was built around removing financial barriers that could prevent talented students from accessing the preparation they needed.
Super 30 therefore became an extension of Kumar’s broader educational focus. The initiative brought together academic preparation and residential support for students who otherwise might not have been able to afford such facilities.
For the students involved, the programme offered an opportunity to concentrate on their preparation without having to bear the costs associated with coaching, accommodation and food.
A Family Effort Behind The Initiative
Super 30 was not only Kumar’s individual effort. His mother, Jayanti Devi, also played a role in supporting the students by preparing meals for them.
Her contribution reflected the residential nature of the initiative, where students received not only free coaching but also food and accommodation during their preparation.
The programme eventually became closely associated with Kumar’s effort to support students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. What began with his work in mathematics developed into a larger educational initiative centred on opportunity and access.
Recognition For A Journey In Education
More than three decades after Kumar began teaching, his work received national recognition.
In 2023, Anand Kumar was awarded the Padma Shri for his contribution to education. The honour marked a significant milestone in a journey that had begun with the Ramanujan School of Mathematics in 1992 and later expanded through Super 30.
His journey also highlights the role that personal experiences can play in shaping an educational mission. The financial hardship that prevented him from pursuing his opportunity at Cambridge became part of the experience that influenced his focus on students facing similar financial limitations.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Anand Kumar’s journey reflects how a personal setback can shape a different path in education. The opportunity to study at Cambridge could not be pursued because of financial hardship, but Kumar continued working in mathematics and eventually focused on students who faced similar financial barriers. Through the Ramanujan School of Mathematics and later Super 30, his work centred on providing educational support to economically disadvantaged students. The Padma Shri recognition in 2023 marked another milestone in a journey that began more than three decades ago.
