Among a group of several middle-aged men and women who were discussing bringing about quality education and how to empower teachers, a youth in his early twenties, dressed in a casual shirt, sat aloof.
Within minutes, he was called onto the dais.
Twenty-two-year-old Babar Ali, popularly known as the world’s youngest headmaster, was surrounded by educators who stood around to click a picture with him. The school that Babar started in backward Bhabta village located at Beldanga in Murshidabad in West Bengal when he was nine years old with eight students, has metamorphosed. It has 300 students and 10 teachers now. The school, Ananda Siksha Niketan, has gained in popularity and is also recognised by the West Bengal government.
Babar dons the role of a student in the morning where he is pursuing his masters in English literature at Berhampore Krishanath College and comes home in the afternoon to teach students.
Biggest achievement
Speaking at the National Summit on Quality in Education, hosted by the CII Institute of Quality, Babar seemed to be in a dilemma on whether teaching is a noble profession or a passion.
“It all started as a game when I used to teach my sister, my first student in my backyard. Later, some migrant children from the village used to come to my classes and that was how the school was born,” he said.
His biggest achievement is that six of his students have now started teaching in his school after their college hours.
In another month, Babar’s dream of a school building will turn into reality, thanks to several philanthropists.
Various people, a majority of who are from Karnataka, have supported him morally and financially.
“The Karnataka government has a chapter on me in the first pre-university textbook, which is why 90 per cent of the mails I receive are from Karnataka.”
Despite all the attention and the recognition he has received, he is still not content. “There are people in my village who do not go to school and there is a long way to go as so many children still need to avail education,” he says.
Within minutes, he was called onto the dais.
Twenty-two-year-old Babar Ali, popularly known as the world’s youngest headmaster, was surrounded by educators who stood around to click a picture with him. The school that Babar started in backward Bhabta village located at Beldanga in Murshidabad in West Bengal when he was nine years old with eight students, has metamorphosed. It has 300 students and 10 teachers now. The school, Ananda Siksha Niketan, has gained in popularity and is also recognised by the West Bengal government.
Babar dons the role of a student in the morning where he is pursuing his masters in English literature at Berhampore Krishanath College and comes home in the afternoon to teach students.
Biggest achievement
Speaking at the National Summit on Quality in Education, hosted by the CII Institute of Quality, Babar seemed to be in a dilemma on whether teaching is a noble profession or a passion.
“It all started as a game when I used to teach my sister, my first student in my backyard. Later, some migrant children from the village used to come to my classes and that was how the school was born,” he said.
His biggest achievement is that six of his students have now started teaching in his school after their college hours.
In another month, Babar’s dream of a school building will turn into reality, thanks to several philanthropists.
Various people, a majority of who are from Karnataka, have supported him morally and financially.
“The Karnataka government has a chapter on me in the first pre-university textbook, which is why 90 per cent of the mails I receive are from Karnataka.”
Despite all the attention and the recognition he has received, he is still not content. “There are people in my village who do not go to school and there is a long way to go as so many children still need to avail education,” he says.
HAPPY Mahatma Gandhi Birth Anniversary