Hi Folks,

The finals of the world T20 Tournament in the Caribbean islands ended today. Fittingly, the most consistent team of the tournament won the trophy. England, the inventors of the game ended their drought and were crowned world champions. Australia, usually a ruthless and dominating team known for its attacking approach and never say die attitude was a very subdued outfit today. I guess they were already emotionally sapped in the nerve wrenching game against Pakistan and looked a tired side. Anyways, the tournament was well organized and the standard of cricket was just outstanding. The famed men in blue came back in blushes and have a lot of work to do. My analysis of the tournament is as follows:
Best Team: England
Best Player: Mike Hussey
Best Bowler: Graham Swann
Best Captain: Paul Colingwood

Moving from cricket to something better......

The state of Bihar is always in news for the wrong reasons. For a change, this time Patna's Super 30, an initiative by maths wizard Anand Kumar has made its way into Time Magazine's Best of Asia 2010.
Under the Super-30 initiative, poor students are coached free of cost to crack JEE, one of the toughest Indian exams to secure admission into the coveted portals of IIT. Established in 2002, the program selects 30 meritorious candidates each year from economically disadvantaged backgrounds and trains them for IIT-JEE providing them free tuition, boarding and lodging. All 30 students have been admitted into the IIT's in 2008 and 2009. From its inception, Super-30 has seen 182 out of 210 students from poor backgrounds make it into the IIT's.

I am sure you guys are surprised as I am. But the story of the man who made it possible is even more inspiring.

Anand Kumar was admitted into Cambridge University for higher education. Due to financial constraints, he could not go there. Having experienced the financial hardships in his life, he decided to do something for the poor but brilliant children who invariably fade away due to lack of exposure and opportunities. Thus he started the Super-30. In a small time frame of 7 years, he has changed the fates of 182 children and their families.
Can there be anything more inspiring. I don't think so.

He could not realize his dream due to financial difficulties. But he has made sure that it will not happen to any deserving student again. Hats off to Anand Kumar and his team.Many states are already implementing the same scheme for economically backward students and Super-30 is soon expanding to become Super-60.

All of us realize the importance of quality education. We are all doing so well because we were exposed to education of highest standards. But what is the use of such education when it is used only to give you and your family a comfortable life. We have to look beyond our selfish interests. Education should serve to enlarge the vision and broaden the outlook of the people. We have to think about people who are less privileged than us and try to help them. Let us all be inspired by people like Anand Kumar and think positively in this direction.

Signing off for now,
KK