FROM VILLAGE SCHOOL TO STATE CHAMPION: VIRAT’S INSPIRING WIN WITH NIHAR SHANTI PATHSHALA FUNWALA

Like the famous cricketer Virat Kohli, there’s another Virat from a small village called Khera in Madhya Pradesh who is winning hearts with his hard work and talent.

Virat Pandey, a 10-year-old boy in the 5th grade, has achieved something remarkable: he won the State-Level Word Power Championship, India’s biggest English competition, organised exclusively for regional language school students. In a competition that tested not just his spelling ability, but also his determination, Virat has emerged as a champion.

Despite his humble background, Virat’s recent achievement is proof of his diligence and commitment to succeed. About clearing the State-Level round, Virat said, “It was a great experience. The moment my name was announced as the winner, my parents and I were overjoyed. It was a result of all the hard work and dedication our family has put into this journey.”

Last year, Virat went to the WPC finals in Mumbai as a spectator. However, that experience motivated him to participate as a contestant this time. He dreams of winning, and his determination is inspiring. “After seeing the event as an audience in Mumbai, I aim to come this year as a participant and win,” said Virat back then, with his eyes twinkling with the dreams of winning.

Talking about some of the challenges he faced while preparing for the competition, Virat added, “In the ‘meaning’ round I faced some challenges and struggled to spell the words like ‘irrespective’.”

Virat’s journey to the WPC finals has not been easy as finding the right material for the Championship in a village can be challenging. But Virat found help through the Nihar Shanti Pathshala Funwala program. With dreams of teaching his child to be proficient in English, Virat’s father, Mr. Saket Pandey, found out about the program through an acquaintance.

With its innovative approach and accessible resources, the program has not only enriched Virat’s understanding of English but has also ignited a passion for learning within him. “The material has helped me a lot in learning the language. I started enjoying learning it even more since it was easy to understand and a fun way to learn. Because of the program, I am also able to read newspapers and storybooks my father brings me from the market,” shared Virat who has big dreams of being an IAS officer.

Virat’s determination has inspired his friends too. Two of them have started learning English seriously through the same program. Virat’s father, Mr. Saket Pandey, a government official by profession, has always been interested in English and passed that love onto his son. Even Virat’s little sister, who’s just 3 years old, is inspired by him. She tells him she’s going to win more awards than him!
To help kids like Virat achieve their dreams, Nihar Naturals Shanti Amla hair oil has teamed up with LeapForWord, a not-for-profit organisation that promotes literacy in rural India. Their collaborative program, Nihar Shanti Pathshala Funwala, teaches English to students in regional schools via the vernacular through WhatsApp and YouTube, making it accessible to many. So far, over 6 lakh students in Madhya Pradesh have benefited from the program in 2023. Virat’s story shows that with determination and the right support, anyone can achieve their dreams, no matter where they come from.