From a half-interested Engineering student to a passionate teacher and an educator on a mission – this is the transformation that choosing Teach for India has wrought on Prasid. The change in this former classmate of mine parallels the transformation of many of Prasid’s students at Varsha Nagar School in Mumbai. As a regular visitor at the school, I felt that this was one story worth bringing to my readers.

“I had finished my MBA, and could get a well-paying corporate job. But why take the well-trodden path? Why not take up something that would give me the opportunity to make a real difference?” Prasid’s words today, as he explains his reason for joining TFI, strike at the core of those of us who sweat it out climbing the corporate ladder.

Who’s the teacher?!

From the beginning, the 31 students of grade 3 staked claim to Prasid’s life, which revolved entirely around lesson plans, field trips, assessment tests and fundraising. Between teaching his “kids” to independently read the unabridged Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and getting them to understand Pythagoras Theorem, between taking them to watch other TFI children perform The Wizard of Oz and playing badminton in the school hall, two years went by almost too soon. Looking back, Prasid feels a mix of nostalgia, satisfaction and the urge to do more.

I ask Prasid for experiences that stand out in his mind, and he tells me there are simply too many of them. He narrates the story of Priti who has now attained international grade 6 in English comprehension and won an elocution competition among eight schools. Not an insignificant achievement for someone who didn’t know any of the subjects, often resorted to copying in class, and used to be beaten at home.

Atul today stands out by his brightness, and is the wittiest kid in class. As a child who was severely ill-treated at home, he initially came across as disengaged in class. However, when he was given the freedom to be himself, things changed, seemingly miraculously to someone not aware of what Prasid did. Shifa was someone with whom Prasid nearly “lost hope after six months” of efforts. She came from a broken family, and her mother was illiterate to the level of not being able to sign a document. Today, Shifa is a bright student, creative and talented in the arts.

We are friends!

These stories illustrate Prasid’s firm belief that teaching is much more than disseminating content, it involves giving attention and love, and truly caring for the children in the formative years of their lives. Which means convincing parents of a girl who dropped out midway to get her back in school, periodically visiting the homes of the children, and getting buy-in from other teachers. In short, keeping hopes high always. Which wasn’t as difficult as it sounds. “There was never a need for a holiday because my work itself was so rewarding and satisfying,” says Prasid, “Teaching never felt like a chore that I needed a break from.”

The kids will miss Prasid bhaiya and he will miss them as well, when another TFI teacher takes over the class this academic year. But then, the change that took place in all 32 lives will have its impact forever. As Prasid now looks forward to managing two schools started by a corporate, let’s wish him and his counterparts at TFI all the best, in their aim to transform India’s education sector, student by student, school by school.

Bad boys, baddy boys!

Want to know more about what Prasid has done? Check out the Facebook page here. Have something to say to Prasid? He can be reached at prasid@gmail.com and @prasids