Leslin K Seemon
| 194 views | 5 min read
Last week, I had the opportunity to visit Rang De Investees once again. After my last visit to Ooty to meet the women artisans, I was eager to see how our investments were impacting students in shaping their careers.
This time, my destination was the PhysicsWallah Institute of Innovation, situated in the hustle and bustle of Bangalore, where students had taken loans from Rang De to pay for their education. Nestled inside a tech park, the institute exuded a sense of calm and grandeur.
I arrived at the institute at 2 PM, just as the students were wrapping up their classes for the day. Despite having finished their sessions, a group of 6-8 students, aged 18-19, had stayed back. I found them in their classrooms, engaging in discussions and diligently working on assignments. As I spoke with these young learners, I discovered the unique path they had chosen. Unlike their peers who follow the traditional college route, these students were driven by a desire for practical, real-world knowledge and experience. They were fully aware of the distinctive journey they were on, prioritising hands-on learning over conventional exam scores. Their curriculum was tailored to meet industry needs, eschewing outdated theoretical content. This approach made their learning experience equally rigorous and challenging, demanding quick adaptation and application of new skills. Among the students I met, five were backed by Rang De Social Investors. They were:
Akanksha Rath
Coming from Bargarh, Orissa, Akanksha has a keen interest in UI/UX design. She joined the program after discovering its practical and applied curriculum. With a 50% scholarship, she turned to Rang De Social Investors to fund the remaining educational fees. Akanksha shared, ‘If not for Rang De, I would have had to take a loan from another bank, which had a cap of 7.5 lakhs and required collateral.’ Thanks to Rang De Social Investors, her dreams are now within reach, enabling her to pursue the career she is passionate about.
Harshit Raj
Hailing from Jhumri Telaiya, Jharkhand, Harshit Raj has a strong desire to learn all about web development. Previously, he faced significant challenges in securing admission due to unsuitable financing options. However, with the support of PhysicsWallah and Rang De, he had no reservations about enrolling in the course. Harshit mentioned, ‘The process of applying and getting a loan from Rang De was really smooth.’ He expressed his gratitude to Rang De Social Investors for their investments in students, enabling them to pursue the career paths they are passionate about.
Dinkar Thakur
Dinkar Thakur, from Bhojpur, Bihar, has a deep passion for physics, which he shares through his YouTube channel where he explains complex concepts. He loves physics for its real-world implications and chose the computer science program at PhysicsWallah IOI because he strongly believes anyone can influence the world with technology. Rang De Social Investors made his aspirations a reality by supporting his education. Dinkar shared, ‘Banks don’t give loans easily for new programs that differ from traditional education, but Rang De is a platform that enables the middle class of India to pursue their dreams.’
Abhishek Sharma
Hailing from Tinsukia, Assam, and the son of a tea farmer, Abhishek dares to dream big. His passion for AI and computer science is so strong that he turned down offers to pursue other branches he was eligible for. Although he secured admission to a college with a major in cybersecurity, Abhishek was more drawn to the AI-based curriculum at PhysicsWallah IOI, so he chose to enrol there. He says, ‘Rang De loans enable students from all corners of India to pursue the education of their choice.’
Samriddhi Sharma
Born and brought up in Jaipur, Rajasthan, Samriddhi always preferred practical knowledge over theory. The reason she chose the PhysicsWallah IOI program was that everything that was taught had a practical utility. She believes in learning from doing rather than rote learning. She says ‘Rang De Social Investors made a good choice by investing in the PhysicsWallah Students and this program because it makes students industry ready unlike traditional institutions where the focus is on theoretical knowledge’
The 120 students enrolled in the PW IOI program come from various parts of India, each with humble backgrounds and a strong ambition. These students have chosen an unconventional route and are confident in excelling in their fields of interest.
The PhysicsWallah Institute of Innovation(PW IOI) stands out due to its unique approach that blends experiential learning with industry-oriented education. The institute offers a hands-on curriculum designed to foster innovation and exploration.
Students benefit from a faculty of industry experts and seasoned educators who bring real-world experience into the classroom, ensuring that the education is both practical and deeply relevant. PhysicsWallah is revolutionising education in India on a massive scale. Operating both online and offline, it covers 98% of India's pin codes.
PW is transforming the education landscape by delivering free quality education to over 32 million students via 72 YouTube channels in 8 regional languages. A total of 310 Rang De Social Investors have backed 55 PhysicsWallah students in pursuing this innovative program by funding 1.3 crores in affordable loans. This partnership between dedicated students and Rang De Social Investors highlights the profound impact that Rang De is making on education in India.
By enabling access to cutting-edge, practical learning opportunities, we are not only fostering individual success but also contributing to the broader goal of creating a skilled and knowledgeable workforce ready to meet the demands of the future. Together, we are shaping a brighter, more inclusive tomorrow.
The PhysicsWallah fund will be coming back soon. If you are interested in supporting students and investing in their future, stay tuned and visit the PhysicsWallah fund page to learn more and get involved.
