Pratham Mysore was founded by Ashvini Ranjan and his wife Shashi Ranjan as part of their post-retirement activity. They adopted two Govt. Primary Schools with 60 children in Nachanahally Palya slums in Mysore South during May 2000 not realising the many challenges they would be faced with. Having entered the unchartered terrain, there was no turning back. It was an initial two years of financial struggle coupled with the problem of finding the right people and dealing with the system.
It was the sheer determination of the couple to succeed, in what they set out to do, that one should admire. Pratham’s growth today is very rewarding to its founders, but more importantly to over five lakh students who will now benefit as a result of an MoU signed between Pratham and the State Government. K.B. Ganapathy, Editor-in-Chief, Star of Mysore, spoke to Ashvini Ranjan for more details. Some excerpts. —Editor
