My inspiration to pursue this field of work is my Grandfather.

His passion and curiosity to achieve

desired goals is my driving force. I am an ideator and an initiator who has displayed dedication and
organizational skills.

The project which I intend to pursue, started with my twice national level achiever project, TELE-ECG, in
school. Innovative learning is always been of interest to me which encouraged me to provide tuitions to
the needy during my college days in my own way. A desire to do something new took me to robotics. I
led a team to National level robotics contest, ROBOCON, which was for the first time from my college
and headed the electronics and coding team of again twice National level prize winning project
SAMUDRA. At my workplace, my ideas on various aspects of technology helped me develop value adds
which received appreciation from the client.

Further, at my workplace I joined the Nithari Computer Literacy Program (NCLP a CSR initiative of TCS)
which gave a meaning and philosophy to my life. The problems that I saw there motivated me to solve
them. Nithari Computer Literacy Program aimed at providing free computer education to the
underprivileged kids of Nithari Village.

I streamlined the operations of NCLP, drafted a curriculum keeping in view the practical requirements. I
also formed the content development team to work on the drafted curriculum and organized the
biggest event in TCS CSR history increasing the student strength from 22 to 185. Also, I motivated others
to join thereby increasing the volunteer strength from 15 to 35. In all modifying the initiative from an
"only" computer literacy program to a comprehensive learning program which brought me several
accolades along with the lead volunteer position.

However, I also understood that the problem was much larger. With some research I came to know that
one of the biggest reasons of school dropouts in India is poverty. I also came across two institutions.
One, Majhihira National Basic Educational Institution (MNBEI), which is running on Gandhian Principles
of Basic Education (Buniyadi Shiksha or Nai Talim) and the other, Fundacion Paraguaya, a social
enterprise that runs agricultural high schools on the lines of self-sustainability.

Inspired by the concepts of self-sustainability and Nai Talim, I am trying to work on the concept of
Learning, Doing and Earning. Starting from a school supplement program to a completely self-sufficient
school, is I believe possible. A thorough research on the problems, curriculum and implementation is
needed.

At present, I am blessed with a stage set in the form of NCLP backed by the coordinating NGO "JWP" and
an idea with a will to do for my self interest and happiness. What I am looking for is a platform, which
IIM Ahmedabad's doctoral program "Innovation and management in education" provides perfectly. I
would like to investigate the areas of alternative school education and school supplementary
programmes and, also, gain from the experiences of professors such as Prof. Rajeev Sharma in the field
of social psychology and institution building, Prof. Vijaya Sherry Chand in the field of social
entrepreneurship and school management, Prof Anil Gupta in leadership and rural development and
many more. I would also like to get exposure from Teachers as Transformers initiative of IIM A and Sristi
initiative of Prof Anil Gupta which would help me in fulfilling my goal of setting a self-sufficient school.