“Nikunj Jayshree Trivedi, a Civil Engineer in Vadodara, Inspires Hope and Learning Amongst 150 Underprivileged Children”
On this Teacher’s Day, we celebrate the unsung heroes who dedicate their lives to shaping the future of our children. One such hero is Nikunj Jayshree Trivedi, a 33-year-old civil engineer in Vadodara, who has taken it upon himself to provide free education to underprivileged students in both private and government schools. Nikunj’s mission is to emphasize the significance of education and create opportunities for children whose parents cannot afford tuition fees.
What sets Nikunj’s mission apart is the support he receives from former students who once sat in his classroom. Jaimini and Jasmita Madhad, twin sisters currently pursuing different courses at MS University of Baroda, were initially mentored by Nikunj. Now, they are giving back by teaching other children in his class.
Jasmita, sharing her experience, said, “I struggled with Maths until I attended Nikunj Sir’s class, where my understanding improved, and I excelled in my 12th-grade exams. Today, I am teaching young minds in the same school, helping them build confidence and succeed in their education.”
Nikunj Trivedi, a civil engineer working in a private company, dedicates his time directly after work to teaching these students. “This is like my second life, spending most of my time educating these kids and instilling confidence in them. Having faced challenges myself, competing with students from other schools during higher studies, I felt compelled to make a difference. For the past four years, I’ve been educating underprivileged students, and I receive support from my former students and local volunteers who join me daily. Currently, approximately 150 children, from kindergarten to 10th grade, attend our classes. Some of them also attend government and private schools, but their parents cannot afford tuition, so I teach them for free,” shared Nikunj.
Initially, Nikunj conducted classes on the roadside, but he later shifted to a community hall in the Tulsiwadi area due to rainy seasons and other logistical issues. Nikunj and his team of eight teachers cover various subjects in both Gujarati and English mediums. They prioritize solidifying basic concepts and language proficiency, including writing in Gujarati, English, and Hindi. Janvi Vankar, a third-year B.Com student at MSU, visits this unique school daily, teaching Hindi, Maths, and English to these children for the past two years.
Nikunj’s mission is driven by his determination to emphasize the importance of education. He considers it his life’s mission to provide education to underprivileged children and even covers school fees for some exceptionally bright students, funding this endeavor from his own pocket and with voluntary assistance from others. What started with just five students has now grown to encompass 150 students under his guidance, and Nikunj is committed to continuing this initiative until his last breath.
