Anand Kumar transforms personal struggle into educational opportunity
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In 1992, Anand Kumar of India started the Ramanujan School of Mathematics to make learning mathematics available to anyone interested. Kumar’s own financial difficulties prevented him from attending Cambridge University in 1994, which led him to focus on helping talented students overcome similar obstacles.
He continued teaching mathematics and shifted his focus to students who could not afford expensive test preparation.
This dedication resulted in the creation of Super 30, a program that provided free coaching, food, and lodging to students preparing for the highly competitive IIT-JEE exam. Kumar’s mother, Jayanti Devi, supported the initiative by cooking meals for the students, emphasizing the program’s residential aspect. Super 30 extended Kumar’s initial work in mathematics into a broader educational effort focused on access and opportunity.
In 2023, the Indian government recognized Kumar’s contributions to education by awarding him the Padma Shri, a national honour, acknowledging over three decades of work begun with the Ramanujan School. His experience with financial hardship motivated him to create pathways for others facing similar challenges.
