Mumbai Teacher makes it to global top 10 for USD 1 million prize

 An Indian teacher who runs a not-for-profit school in Mumbai for girls from the city's red light areas was on Wednesday named in the top 10 short-list for a global prize for teachers.

Robin Chaurasiya, founder of Kranti, will compete with teachers from the UK, US, Nairobi, Palestine, Japan, Finland, Australia and Pakistan to win the USD 1-million Global Teacher Prize 2016.

"There was a teacher behind every great artist, every great philosopher, every great scientist. However difficult life can be, teachers have always been there, behind the scenes, showing us the way forward," said renowned scientist Prof Stephen Hawking as he announced the top 10 in London.

"I wasn't the easiest person to teach. I was slow to learn to read, and my handwriting was untidy. But, at the age of fourteen, my teacher, Dikran Tahta, showed me how to harness my energy, and encouraged me to think



creatively about maths.

He made me wonder. He made me curious. He opened up new worlds to me. That is what a great teacher can do," he said.

In reference to the founder of the prize, Kerala-born entrepreneur Sunny Varkey, he added: "Thanks to Sunny Varkey, and the Varkey Foundation. We need great teachers to grow great minds, or we will never solve the world's most pressing problems."

The prize was created last year as a kind of Oscars for the teaching profession by the UK-based Varkey Foundation.

The Indian nominee, Chaurasiya, refers to his students as "Krantikaries" (Revolutionaries), who are aged 12-20 and include victims of trafficking and daughters of sex workers.

The top ten have been narrowed down from 8,000 nominations and applications from 148 countries from around the world.

The prize will be announced at a ceremony in Dubai on March 13.