Anand Kumar

Anand Kumar is a respected mathematics teacher. He had the opportunity to study at Cambridge University in 1994, but the untimely demise of his father – the sole bread winner for the family – came in the way. His financial position did not allow him to go abroad. Though he missed the opportunity he never wanted to miss, it inspired him to work for underprivileged students like himself. Today, he is ushering in a silent revolution in the backwaters of Bihar through his highly successful initiative, Super 30, which helps talented students from poor families successfully chase the big dream of going to the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), India’s premier institution.  

In the last nine years, Super 30 has seen 236 students making it to IIT. TimeMagazine featured it as the “best cram school in Asia”. Several international channels and newspapers including “Discovery Channel”’ featured it. Super 30 is a highly ambitious and innovative educational program. It hunts for 30 meritorious talents from among the economically backward sections of the society through an entrance test. During the program, students are provided with absolutely free coaching, lodging and food. Sometimes, all 30 students from Super 30 make it to the IIT.

Anand Kumar has no financial support for Super 30 from any government or private agency. After the success of Super 30 and its growing popularity, he got many offers of financial help from the private sector – both national and international companies – as well as the government, but he has always refused it. He wants to sustain Super 30 through his own efforts and prove that, even with limited resources, one can make a difference if one has willpower. He runs evening classes for intermediate level students to fund Super 30.