Pearls Of India

If selflessness had a face, it would have looked like Padma Shri Awardee, late Shri Prakash Rao – An incredible chaiwala who invested half of his income in setting up a school in the slum of Cuttack, Odisha to give free education and food to slum children.

Prakash Rao had been selling tea from the age of 7, and had always yearned to complete his education. Every day he would see slum kids either begging on the streets or getting caught stealing. These children were often used in child labour, with parents preferring to get an income from them instead of enrolling them in schools.

Prakash Rao wanted to give these children a chance to change the trajectory of their life with education. With this aim, he started “Asha Ashawasana” – a school that has educated hundreds of kids, and transformed their lives

Prakash Rao, has and always been an inspiration. It is our honour to share his story.