Road to IIT: Meet Anand Kumar, brain behind Super 30
Educator Anand Kumar could not attend Cambridge University due to financial constraints. Today, he coaches deserving students for IIT-JEE.
HIS father, a post office clerk in Bihar, couldn't afford private schooling for his children. So, Anand Kumar studied at a Hindi medium government school where, at an early age, he fell in love with mathematics. During graduation, he submitted papers on Numbers Theory that were published in UK's Mathematical Spectrum and The Mathematical Gazette.
He was accepted by Cambridge University and was close to realising his dream of becoming a mathematician, when his father suddenly passed away. The household income dwindled and Kumar and his mother made papad, which he sold door-to-door in the evenings, while writing mathematical theories in the daytime.
Then one day, a well-wisher suggested Kumar teach maths. In 1995, at the age of 22, he rented a classroom for Rs. 500 a month and started teaching. In one year's time, the strength of his classroom went from 2 to 36. Today, his study centre Ramanujan School of Mathematics is renowned, the world over. In a frank interview with Sumita Vaid Dixit, he talks (in chaste Hindi) about Indian education, revolution and his dream.
Q. Why did you start Super 30?
A. Within three years we had nearly 500 students. Although the fee was nominal - Rs. 1,500 a year - some poor students could not pay. Once, a boy came to me and said that he wanted to study but could only pay after his father, a poor farmer, had harvested potatoes. In Bihar, we call it 'aloo ukharna'.
I didn't want to take away the boy's only hope of changing his life because he couldn't pay. That's when I decided that I will form a group of 30 bright students, all from poor families, provide them with board and lodging and prepare them for IIT. This group was called Super 30. My brother Pranav Kumar, a violinist by profession, manages the institute, while my mother cooks for the students.
In the last seven years, 182 students out of 210 have made it to different IITs of the country. And for the last two years, all thirty students of Super 30 have made it to IIT. Parents of some students are bricklayers some work as domestic help. Now many of our students are working in Europe and the US.
Q. What is it about your teaching methods that help students get through to IIT?
A. This success is a combination of three factors. My students have junoon (passion), a fire in them to achieve. Two, our teaching approach is different. I use multimedia slides to make a little story with characters to explain maths concepts. Three, we take tests every day. Well, in a nutshell, we teach our students the how and why! That's all.
Q. But how do you run the place with the little fee you charge the other students?
A. I didn't start the place to make money. There are many coaching institutes in Patna for the rich, but none for the poor. NRIs (Non-Resident Indians) come to me with offers of help, but I wanted to prove that much can be achieved with fewer resources.
Q. Have you been able to prove that?
A. I think I have. There are far too many students coming to us, more than what we can take. And this has annoyed many coaching institutes. As you would know, many of the institutes here are run by criminals. I have received death threats one of my non-teaching staff was stabbed, once they even tried to blow me away with a crude bomb, but I escaped unhurt. I move around with two security guards armed with machines guns.
Q. Does the sight of security guards scare away children or parents?
A. (laughs) Children in Bihar are familiar with the criminal activities here. It doesn't scare them.
Q. Don't you get scared your life may be at stake?
A. I am doing this for society. Yes, mobility is restricted and I get frustrated at times, but it's okay. I get my strength from these kids. But over the past few years, the crime rate has come down and the police support me. Besides, if I get scared how will the others join me in creating a revolution?
Q. What kind of revolution?
A. Making education accessible to every poor child in India. I wish the kids I have taught, come back to their hometowns and do something for their people, their village. At times, it hurts to see that some forget about giving back to the society.
But there's another kind of kranti (revolution) taking place. Earlier when a peon used to work at an IAS officer's residence, he hoped that when his own son became a peon, the officer would treat him well. Today, the peon who works at the IAS officer's house wants his son to become an IAS officer, not a peon. That's kranti! We mustn't forget the sacrifice and hardships parents go through just to make sure their children live better lives, their children go to schools.
Q. Would the HRD minister's proposals bring about a change?
A. Kapil Sibalji thinks that by changing the syllabus or introducing a grading system, education will improve. The system will not change like this. Change will come when teachers have the passion to teach. 'Jab unme junoon hoga'!For that teachers should be paid well. It's ironical that while parents want their children to have great teachers, they don't want their children to become teachers!
The policymakers' idea of education is limited to Delhi and the NCR region. They have no clue of the positions of schools in Bihar or Uttar Pradesh many schools don't have roofs here.
And suggesting 80 per cent as cut-off marks for the IIT entrance exam is ridiculous. You cannot apply this to local boards or to students in villages. There cannot to be true development until the villages of India are also a part of the development process. 'Bharat ki atman gaon mein bassi hain' (the spirit of this nation resides in the villages).
Q. Then what's the way forward?
A. We need two syllabi: one for students with an ordinary intellect and one for students with extraordinary intellect. There are those who can do very well in jobs and there are those who can excel in research, and the first six years of schooling are good enough to evaluate a student's potential. This method is followed by China and Russia.
Do you know that China has topped 15 times in the past 22 years in the International Mathematical Olympiad? In times to come the top researches and scientists will come from China.
So we have to think of novel ways of encouraging our students to get into research. Why hasn't India produced Nobel winners in a long time? The ones that have are those who left this country to pursue their research elsewhere.
Q. And, what are your future plans?
A. I want to extent my programme to students of Class 5 and 6 as many gifted children fade away before they reach class 10. Many out of school to sell vegetables or work at tea stalls. I want to catch them young.
So, now I'm thinking of setting up a chain of free schools across the country, with free board and lodging facilities, where children can study from Class 5 to up to Class 12 and where they are prepared not just for IIT but Olympiad tests in mathematics, physics and chemistry.
Q. But your dream of going to Cambridge still remains unfulfilled?
A. When those eyes full of hope look at me, the respect and pleasure I get seeing my students being placed in large organisations makes me forget about it. But I do keep travelling to the US to give lectures my papers get published in international magazines. I am happy.
Tips to help you ace IIT-JEE
The syllabus of Class 11 & 12 contributes about 45% and 55% of IIT-JEE question papers respectively. When you are preparing all the chapters of Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics, stress may be given, in particular, on the following topics.
Mathematics: Quadratic Equat-ions & Expressions, Complex Numbers, Probability, Vectors, Matrices in Algebra; Circle, Parabola, Hyperbola in Coordinate Geometry; Functions, Limits, Continuity and Differentiability, Application of Derivatives, Definite Integral in Calculus.
Physics: Mechanics, Fluids, Heat & Thermodynamics, Waves and Sound, Capacitors & Electrostatics, Magnetics, Electromagnetic Induction, Optics and Modern Physics.
Chemistry: Qualitative Analysis, Coordination Chemistry & Chemical Bonding in Inorganic Chemistry, Electrochemistry, Chemical Equilibrium in Physical Chemistry and Organic Chemistry complete as a topic.
Planning is the key The way to prepare and deal with the study pressure is proper planning and its implementation.
* Divide the time available on the three subjects.
* Further detail out the chapter-wise, topic-wise time schedule.
* Make summary notes/points to remember of all the concepts topic/chapter-wise and flag the questions with twist, intermingling of concepts requiring analytical skills. This will help in quick revision, a couple of days before or even on the eve of the examination.
The right approach
Students, who have to simultaneously prepare for XII board and IIT-JEE, should start concentrating on Class XII and corresponding IIT-JEE chapters around 21 days before board examination. However, the flame should be kept burning even for Class XI chapters by way of revision till start of board examinations. After the board examinations, focused and concentrated revision of both Class XI & XII subjects will have to be undertaken.
The right approach for those appearing first time or second (last) time is to stick to one source and not to refer to multitude of books/study material available in the market. For example it is sufficient to go through study-packages, IIT-JEE Archives, Review-packages, Work-books, Grand Masters Package/Equivalent, AITS/AIITS series etc., supplied by FIITJEE if the student is enrolled in any of its programmes. To reap benefits, the students, throughout preparation period, should remain focused with a positive attitude to study with utmost concentration. It is quality of time spent and not the quantity alone. A short break of 5 to 10 minutes every one to one-and-a-half hours of serious study is advisable. Total relaxation during the break will supposedly charge the batteries for another intensive spell of serious study.
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Pattern of papers
There will be two three-hour combined papers (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics) to test the aptitude, comprehension and analytical ability of the students. Expected pattern in 2010 is a suitable mix of various types under 2006 to 2009 (view table below).
Importance of practice sessions
To keep focused for better results, the student should strictly follow a well-planned time schedule. During practice sessions speed in working out the questions should be developed. This is a natural byproduct if the student has attempted questions from basic principles in the initial stages. However, it is never too late to practise it. This strategy of solving questions from fundamentals will induce in the student a parallel thinking process so very necessary to increase and master analytical skills with conceptual understanding. The proof of pudding is in the eating. Progress made must be checked by solving Quizzes/Mock Test Papers on a regular basis. The student should aim at 100% hit rate i.e. all attempted questions are correct. This will ensure a competitive edge over others who will be left behind due to negative marking. Speed and accuracy will also allow finishing the papers ahead of time, leaving some time for revision.
Keep mind and body fit
Asanas, Pranayama and Meditation (in that order) every day in the morning and/or evening will help to develop inner calm and power of concentration needed for success. This will ultimately be of immense help on the D-day. Minimum 5 to 6 hours of sleep daily is necessary to keep the mind and body fit.
Smart tip: Understand application of concepts and analytical skills vis-à-vis mechanical/ blind application of formulae/theory.
Facing the exam
The strategy in the examination hall will be to keep cool, to have faith and to harness the examination temperament built during planned preparation. It is advisable to reach the examination centre at least 20 minutes early. A few deep breaths will ward off nervousness. Instructions given in the question papers should be read and followed very carefully. The student should not spend more than 45 minutes on any of the subjects in the first attempt.
He should fix priorities after a concentrated quick reading of the paper and start answering with the question he knows best and move progressively to ones in ascending order of difficulty. Questions with no negative marks must be attempted. The 45-minute cycle should be repeated for the other two subjects. Thereafter the student should come back to the three sections for attempting left out questions, conceptually with well-reasoned logic and for over all revision during the last 45 minutes. Even if some segment/section appears to be tough, one should keep cool since it is the relative performance which will count and hence the student should put-in his best.
Remain positive
IIT-JEE exam tests understanding in application of concepts and analytical skills vis-à-vis mechanical/blind application of formulae/theory. Temporary set-backs or poor performance during practice in some Quiz or Mock Test Paper should not discourage and the student should march onwards with greater and greater will and determination. The success in the IIT-JEE examination is directly proportional to the number of problems solved independently
and preferably by more than one method. To raise the bar and to develop muscles, the weight is to be lifted by the student himself.
R.L.Trikha is the HoD, Distance Education, and Faculty of Mathematics at FIITJEE.
"For things to change, we must change"
Your college, or your company, and your city – all these are actually wonderful places. You just need to learn to look at them that way.
POOJA was a rather unhappy girl. She just hated college. Ask her why, and the response would be quick: The students in her college were all snobbish and extremely unhelpful. Terrible people to be with!
Aarti always walked around with a huge smile on her face. She loved her college. And if you asked her why, her response would be swift too: The students in her college were extremely warm and friendly. Wonderful folks to hang out with!
Now you’d probably be thinking we are all like them. If we are lucky to be in a place where the people are nice and friendly, we are happy. And if we are not so fortunate, and find ourselves in the midst of not-so-nice people, we are unhappy.
So here’s the interesting bit. Both Pooja and Aarti are students of the same college. In fact, they are in the same class! If you look around, you’ll find several people like Pooja and Aarti. It could be two people, who work in the same organisation, or are studying the same course, or living in the same city; while one of them loves everything about the company or the course or the place they live in, the other person always seems to be complaining about how terrible their world is.
How come? Same place, different views. Why does this happen? Maybe there’s a message in the story of the old man who ran a highway tea shop on a highway between two cities. It was a popular stopover for motorists, partly because of the quality of the tea, and more because of the friendly old man who ran it.
One day, a car carrying a group of friends stopped by and after all the occupants had helped themselves to some delicious tea, one of them asked the old man “How are the people in the town ahead?”
“How were the people in the town you are coming from?” asked the old man.
“Oh, they were lousy,” was the reply. “Arrogant and ill-mannered!”
The old man paused for a moment and then said “You will find the people in the town ahead are also like that.”
A little while later another car pulled over at the tea shop. The folks in the car enjoyed their tea and as they were about to drive off, one of them asked the old man the same question: “How are the people in the town ahead?”
And the old man responded “How were the people in the town you are coming from?”
“They were wonderful people,” came the response. “Warm and helpful”
The old man smiled and said “You will find that the people in the town ahead are exactly the same.”
Think about it. It’s always like that. The way we see the people around us depends not so much on how they are – but on how we are.
If you find yourself unhappy with the people and circumstances in your life, maybe the problem is not with them – it’s to do with you! If the world around you looks rather dark and gloomy, when someone else finds it bright and sunny - maybe all you need to do is remove your dark sunglasses! Change the way you look at your world. Resolve to be happy. Be positive. Be friendly. And the world will seem a better place.
Become the kind of friend or colleague you’d like to have and - surprise – you’ll find that the people around are you are like that too. You will find all the warmth and the friendliness reflecting back at you. We all tend to attract people and circumstances that are in harmony with our attitude. Happy people have happy friends, happy lives. And the converse tends to be generally true too. Alas!
Remember, for things to change, we must change. Your college, or your company, and your city – all these are actually wonderful places. You just need to learn to look at them that way. Gandhiji’s advice still holds true: Be the change you want to see. Starting today, change your outlook. Change your world!
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