Anand Kumar (mathematician)

Anand Kumar (mathematician) Biography

Anand Kumar is a very famous Indian Mathematician, best known for his Super 30 programme. Through this programme, he coaches economically backward students for the most elite IIT-JEE exams of India. By 2018, he has made 480 IITians through his Super 30 programme. Thus he is also known as an educationalist, and he is a well-known columnist too. His efforts towards education have been globally recognized, and he has been invited to talk at various forums and educational institutions across the globe. Vikas Bahl’s upcoming film titled "Super 30” is based on his life, and Hrithik Roshan will be played the lead role of Anand Kumar. Though he gained recognition for his educational efforts, he remained a man of controversies too.

Anand Kumar was born in Patna, Bihar on 1 January 1973 into a middle class family. His father worked as a clerk, who couldn’t afford private education for his kids. Anand attended a Hindi medium government school. But during his school days he developed deep interest in mathematics subject. He completed his graduation in Mathematics, and was a brilliant student then. His papers on number theory got published in Mathematical Spectrum and The Mathematical Gazette. Kumar secured admission to Cambridge University. But due to his bad financial condition and father’s death, he couldn’t attend it. He also failed to get a sponsor for his higher studies.

After his father’s death, his mother started a small business for selling pappads, and Anand Kumar helped his mother. He also continued with his works on Mathematics subjects. In 1992, Kumar began teaching mathematics in a monthly rented room, and slowly succeeded. When a poor student came to him seeking coaching for IIT-JEE, the entrance examination for the Indian Institutes of Technology, Kumar was motivated to start the Super 30 programme in 2002. He started the programme in Patna in 2002 which gave free coaching to underprivileged students. He also managed to gain many seats to his students through his efforts, for which he is known most.  

Published: September 22, 2018

Updated: September 22, 2018