A young trailblazer is shaking up the education landscape with his unwavering commitment to making learning accessible to all. While peers of his age are chasing lucrative careers, this remarkable individual is defying convention with a noble mission.
Driven by empathy for students forced to abandon their academic dreams due to financial constraints or other obstacles, he’s taken it upon himself to bridge the gap. This selfless youngster’s initiative is a beacon of hope for those struggling to access quality education. By providing essential resources and guidance, he’s not only transforming lives but also fostering a culture of inclusivity.
Meet Kanhu Charan Parida, a young philanthropist who is revolutionizing education in his community. This dedicated individual not only provides free tuition to students from Class IX to XII but also equips them with essential study materials.
Ommcom News spotlights the young changemaker, who is making education accessible for village students.
Hailing from a modest background in the Nalagohira village under Chandbali block in Bhadrak district, Kanhu has developed a friendship with books from childhood. He claims books to be his best friend. Growing up in challenging financial conditions, he was persistent in his academic pursuits. Despite facing struggles, he went on to complete his bachelor’s degree from Bhadrak Autonomous College and B.Ed Acharya Nagarjuna University.
After graduating, Kanhu Charan Parida was poised to pursue a lucrative career, but his heart lay elsewhere. Haunted by the struggles of his village students, he thought of doing something different. Kanhu noticed that many bright minds were stifled by financial barriers, forcing them to abandon their academic dreams.
A 10-kilometre trek to the nearest coaching centre or tuition classes was a daunting task for village students, and economic constraints only exacerbated the issue. Moved by the plight of village students, Kanhu decided to provide free tuition so that they could score more marks.
Determined to bridge the educational gap, Kanhu began providing free tuition to students of higher classes in 2018. He engaged his old students who are preparing for competitive examinations and holding PhD degree to teach students who are pursuing Plus II Science.
Kanhu, the founder of Nalagohira Sikhya Bikash Manch, recognized the limitations of solo efforts in ensuring quality education. To address this, he enlisted talented former students to teach and mentor village students. “All I want students belonging to my village and neighbouring villages to excel in their studies despite challenges and not discontinue their studies no matter what comes. Apart from providing tuition, I hold workshops for their holistic development. We also organise plantation programmes to create a greener world around us.”
“I focused on higher-class students as they struggle to grasp complex subjects due to limited resources. Village students from farmers’ families in particular face financial constraints, making private tuition unaffordable. I do take pride in teaching such students under the banner of Nalagohira Sikhya Bikash Manch. So far, more than 200 students have benefitted from his initiative”, said Kanhu when asked why he opted for providing tuition to higher classes.
Upon being asked about the reaction of his family members on honing the skills of village students instead of looking for his career, he said, “My family members were not happy with my decision initially. They used to give examples of my friends who are OAS officers and some at the peak of their careers. However, when they saw my students passing with flying colours and making me proud, they felt a sense of pride for me.”
Kanhu has established a unique library for underprivileged children, promoting literacy and sustainability. He collects donated old books and distributes them among needy students. He recycles the books by reclaiming them from previous recipients and redistributing them to new students. This cyclical model ensures maximum utilization of resources.
By Rashmi Rekha Das
