How it all started (part 1)

The roots of opening an academy goes back to my TE when Raj shifted to my room. It was only me and Nandal that used to live in that triplet (a room for three). So obviously the space for one more guy was left. Me and Nandal decided to get a doublet in SE. We failed! So we decided to keep our triplet only as a doublet - no intruder. Still, when Raj intended to come to our room (due to the difference with his own room-mates), I felt a bit happy. He resonated with me. Ideas, views, attitute, and most important - the wish to open an academy.

We were in our BE. I was so excited regarding placements but my marks were low. I never studied hard in entire engineering span. So, somewhere I knew that I would never get a job. Moreover, I didn't want either. So, me and Sachin (my flankmate since 2 consecutive years) tried a part-time teaching at Vishrantwadi. We approached a guy named Anil. About 40 year old, typical healthy fat Indian physique, blunt mustache like any Marathi and an owner of a science academy since 20 years. You can say, he was a pretty good experience holder in the field of education. He named his academy as USA - Universal Science Academy.

He asked us to give a demo class next sunday. We asked for little more time as placements were going on. I got placed in Mu-Sigma and Sachin was to wait for another 6 months for a job in Codewalla. The day I reached USA for second time was Sunday, and it was more than 1 month since my last meeting with Anil. But he recognised me instantly. Gave me a class and asked to teach the students. "Nitin Sir, Physics for 2 hours, and then Biology for 2 hours, with a half an hour break inbetween" - he said.

Students were from XII, both CBSE and State Board of Maharashtra. Students had good knowledge - but nothing from books. They knew how to shout in class, how to irritate a teacher, how to ruin their life by not studying BUT they knew nothing about electrostatics - the very first chapter in their syllabus. And whatever they knew, as mentioned above, they were practically applying that in their life. Exception to this category of students were just 6 among them - Narendra, Prashant, Seema, Rishi, Shivani and Shweta.

For 2 months, I taught them (October and November) - going to classes every alternate day (including sundays). I was paid INR 200 per hour of lectures. Time just went with those badly educated students whom I was trying to improve. Most of my lectures used to be less about the topics, and more about making them realise the mistakes they were making, the crime they were comitting by not studying. Anil had nothing to do with the results of students. Actually there were about 10 academies in that area. And none of them cared a s*** about the students. Sometimes, Anil also used to cheat with me regarding my payments.

I shared the condition of the kids with my friends. Nandal gave the idea. "Lets open an academy of our own. If you can attract the students out of USA, we may also earn something. In turn we will provide much better education. What say?" - he said.

It was me, Nandal, Vinit and Raj who were to be partners. We made a division of labour as follows:

Me - Physics and Biology
Raj - Mathematics
Vinit - Chemistry
Nandal - Management

Now, there were clashes. Both Raj and Vinit argued that we don't need a manager. Hardly 10-20 kids will come to us. To manage such a small set of children, we don't need a dedicated manager. We can do it. I did agree. So decided to keep the team of three - me, Raj and Vinit.

-(to be continued)

How it all started (part 2)

So now, we were three. It was early December. PLs were encountered and we went to our respective native places (Vinit went to Hyderabad instead). Nandal went to SSB, Allahabad.

We had a limited time. College was to reopen in Jan and it was December 9. We had a deal to reach Pune on or before Dec 15 and open academy before 20th. The first step was to collect study material. I went Behel to my cousin brother who had all study notes of my didi (didi had a coaching from Akash Institute, New Delhi and got admission to Army College of Medical Science). Later I collected all the notes I could find with 'Theta Sir' for Rs. 500/-. On the other hand, Raj was looking for all the notes of his younger brother who had coaching from Motion IIT-JEE Kota. Though Raj himself had coaching from Bansal, Kota. But after getting selected in EML for subsequent two years, he burnt all his books in anger.

Now we had to decide the name of our "to be academy". We came up with many names. List had about 15 names and later we narrowed down the list to only two names: "Amigos" and "Competition Island". Finally, Competition Island was the winning name. Vinit and me made the logo overnight by merging whatever we could get on Google-Images, and after a little fine Photoshop by Vinit.

Next step was to attract all the students. I had phone numbers of all the kids studying at USA. I messaged them all, and a CC to Mr. Anil also. Anil replied that "if you are coming to us as faculty, it is not good to send such SMS to me as well as my students."

On 18th of December, I left Bhiwani to Delhi. My train was waiting for me. After two hours, Raj joined me in Mathura. We had a seat side by side. On December 19, I called all the students confirming the admission and asked them to wait at Dominos in Vishrantwadi (Vinit says, that was the the most stupid thing we have ever done in our so called "Academy-Career") at 5 PM.  Vinit reached AIT at 2:00 PM and We all met at Dominos at 5:00 PM as scheduled. Students were told that "tomorrow on 20th, we have the opening, BUT we still don't know what is the address :)". We ordered Pizza for all of them that did cost us arount a 1000 bucks and there were around 10 students there out of whom, only 5 joined.

Raj says "those 5 would have joined us anyhow. Pizza didn't help at all in attracting them". On December 20, me and Vinit went to Manpa and baught a whiteboard marker worth 1080 INR. We kept it at AIT hostel that night and made payments to a 1 BHK ugly room which was to be renowned. It would take another day so we told students that the opening is delayed by one day.

Next day, we ran all the day for furniture. We got a donation of about 9 chairs from a "TO BE KEPT SECRET" source which in return asked for us to have a bit physical pain, shoes filled of mud and a cost of fare to a Sixy-auto at 11:00 PM. So we decided not to buy anymore, and make a sustainable development. But that donation surely . The same benevolent source also gave us some curtains.

Now, it was the final day. On one hand, we had to get our documents for room-at-rent completed by a Govt. Notary. On other hand, we felt that the chairs were less than required. Then, on one side, me and Raj made a leap to Bhosari for cheap chairs. On other side, Vinit was making arrangements of a tube-light in the inner room. We were late. Students were waiting for us since 5:00 PM near Dew-Drops. I went to receive them at 5:15 PM. First class was of mine and I was not in good attire. Parents were also with kinds. Vinit escorted dew students beforehand and other I handed over to Raj. Then I ran to college to change my drapery. At 5:30, class was ready to go on with a rickety arrangement.

Rooms were stinking. Toilet wasn't clean (And Raj says : "Get back to the class. Why the hell are you girls standing outside?"). Mosquitoes were destroying the scenario even more. So, vinit made a quick arrangement of a coil. He made a podium. And finally, we were done with a temporary academy like environment, with our only wealth : the knowledge we had.

That was our first batch. First day, around 15 students arrived. We taught well, and to our full potential. Got all forms filled by students along with their parent's signatures. Fee was very optimal. And most of them kept on attending the classes for around 8 to 9 days until we asked for fee. And as soon we asked for money, they started leaving with excuses. We were left with just 6 students (with a doubt whether they will give fee or they will also run away). But, luckily 5 of them were still retained by us and they performed better than who remained at USA, as far as we know.

This was the story of "The Origin of Competition Island".