Until Class 3, Pavan Kalyan’s life was quite ordinary. That year, however, everything changed. The boy who once dreaded school began to look forward to it. He discovered that math wasn’t as complicated as he had thought. Most importantly, he started dreaming of a bright future for himself.
This transformation came thanks to the adoption of his school by the Tranquil Charitable Foundation (TCF) — an NGO dedicated to improving educational conditions.
The government school had suffered from poor infrastructure and a lack of teachers. It was on Srinivasan N’s morning run route, where he would see the challenges these children faced every day. Growing up in the chawls of Mumbai, Srinivasan understood the hardships faced by underprivileged children all too well.
Concerned for the students, he shared their plight with his friends, Sriram Visvanathan and Srinivas Padmanabharao. United by their belief in the transformative power of education — something they had experienced themselves — they were determined to make a difference in the lives of the students at Gubbalala Higher Primary School.
Together, they formed TCF and formally adopted the school under the Karnataka Government’s ‘Shale Dattu Yojana’ scheme.
Over the past 15 years, the school and its students have experienced a remarkable transformation. Improvements have included upgraded infrastructure, the hiring of more teachers, and the appointment of an academic director to ensure quality education. Additionally, the foundation has provided financial assistance and support for students beyond Class 7 — even though the school caters to students from Classes 1 to 7.
As a result, student enrollment in the Kannada medium school has surged from 73 to 260. The foundation also supports over 125 alumni in their pursuit of higher education through after-school classes, mentorship, and financial aid.
“I would have studied only till Class 10 had TCF not come into my life,” shares Pavan, who is now pursuing a PhD in Physics from PES University, Bengaluru.
Turning adversity into opportunity: A life shaped by purpose
Born and raised in Mumbai, Srinivasan grew up in a chawl till he was 12 and studied in a government-aided school. Now, the co-founder and managing trustee of TCF, he tells The Better India, “Very early in life, I understood that education was the only way forward. It is a foolproof way to break the shackles of poverty.”
Life had other plans for him. At 17, he lost his father and was unable to pursue his dreams of post-graduation. Taking on the role of the breadwinner, he began working to support his family. In search of a better life, he moved to the Middle East at 26, where he quickly climbed the corporate ladder. By 40, he held a prestigious position at a car rental company, enjoying the fast-paced ‘Dubai’ lifestyle.
Yet, something was amiss, shares Srinivasan. “Doing good was always on the back of my head and as I saw it, I had two paths: either make a lot of money in the Middle East or return home to do something purposeful,” he adds.
At 42, he resigned from his comfortable job and returned to Bengaluru. There, he met Sriram and Srinivas Padmanabharao at his apartment complex. Sriram, a co-founder and trustee, is an engineer and MBA graduate with 15 years of experience at Intel in California. Like him, he returned to Bengaluru in search of purpose. Srinivas Padmanabharao, another co-founder and advisor, holds an engineering degree and an MBA from IIM Calcutta.
It was during a game of tennis that the three decided to establish TCF!
Transforming the school experience with enhanced facilities and support
The first thing the foundation did after adopting the school was create a better environment for the students. “We revamped the classrooms and built a library, toilet, garden, and computer laboratory. We made it a nicer place for the students,” says Srinivasan.
To enhance learning and adopt different methodologies of teaching, they appointed an academic director, Akhila Radhakrishnan, along with eight qualified teachers and volunteers. As a result, the children began to enjoy their classes more. “We maintain a 1:10 teacher-to-student ratio,” he informs.
“Everyone used to tell us that maths is a very difficult subject, leading to a mental block and fear. A volunteer from TCF would come twice or thrice a week and teach maths in a simple way. It made me love the subject,” says Pavan.
The volunteers help students with their doubts and provide additional teaching after school hours when needed. This support has helped prevent dropouts, according to the managing trustee.
To instil a sense of responsibility, the school has a system of ‘council of ministers’ elected in each class, responsible for maintaining cleanliness. Committed to sustainability, the school organises zero-waste events, avoiding balloons and plastic to teach children about environmental stewardship.
The school also emphasises extracurricular activities for holistic development, aiming to provide students with an education on par with private schools.
While significant progress was achieved for students up to Class 7, challenges persisted once they transitioned to other schools. Dropouts continued, particularly among girls who were often married off early, and many students struggled to find quality high schools or colleges.
To address this, the trust got on board Shyamala Manikandan as an honorary alumni director, to mentor, and in a way, become guardians for these children even after they graduated from the school. “We started an after-school programme for our alumni. Part-time teachers conduct special classes for students from Classes 8 to 12 over the weekend. We provide them with all the necessary tools they need to succeed. We have partnered with local high schools to ensure a smooth transition,” adds Srinivasan.
The foundation also covers students’ college fees, provides laptops for their studies, and more. Thanks to these efforts, many students have completed their graduation. Some have become engineers, others are training to become chartered accountants or entering finance, one is pursuing an MBBS, and Pavan is even working toward a doctorate. Several have completed industrial training and now work with reputable institutions.
When students reach Class 7, the alumni director discusses their preferred high schools and helps arrange admissions. By Class 10, students receive career counselling and are asked to select their top three colleges, with TCF assisting in securing their placements. The foundation also offers personal coaching in subjects like maths, science, economics, statistics, business studies, computer skills and English to support students after school hours.
Breaking the cycle: Education as a pathway out of poverty
“We want to break the shackles of poverty. A house-help’s daughter shouldn’t follow her mother’s profession. She should do what she wants, and the only way to do it is through education,” emphasises Srinivasan.
Pavan’s mother works as a house-help, and his father is a driver. He is the first person in his family to even complete Class 10. “I honestly would have continued in this cycle of poverty if it hadn’t been for TCF. Without their guidance, I would have probably become a driver like my father after Class 10. They helped me in every step of the way, right from choosing a college to paying the fees,” he says.
Today, Pavan teaches science and math to 60 students and alumni from the school after his college hours. “This gratitude is heartening,” says Srinivasan. Over the past 15 years, more than 1,000 students have graduated, and many donate their first paycheck to the foundation as a gesture of thanks.
The foundation hopes to inspire others to adopt nearby government schools and help more students reach their full potential.
If you wish to support the trust, you can donate here. To learn more about their work, click here.
Edited by Pranita Bhat; Images Courtesy Srinivasan N
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