Interviewtimes 
Education is widely acknowledged as the backbone of any country. To quote Nelson Mandela, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”. Countries today compete with one another not just on literacy rates but on the quality of education given its profound impact on jobs and economic growth. Thus, it is of utmost importance to provide children with the best possible education as an investment which will only benefit the whole society in the future. Koutilya, the Bhubaneswar-based educational institution not only bears ample testimony to this truism but also has shaped the dreams of many students into reality. The Koutilya has over the years designed, delivered, perfected and innovated the art and craft of teaching, guiding students for both board and competitive exams. Under the able leadership of Dr. Debitosh Acharya (Chairman, The Koutilya), an accomplished academician, motivational speaker and edupreneur, The Koutilya has become synonymous with quality education in the state today. With its two sprawling campuses, one at Trishulia and another near Infocity Square, the educational institution is poised to take positive and revolutionary strides in the future.
Educated in India, Acharya worked for a reputed software firm at California for a brief period before moving back to Bhubaneswar in 2003. Subsequently, he joined as the Head of the Department of Computer Science at DRIEMS College, Tangi. Since Cuttack district lacked a proper technical college, Acharya founded DRIEMS Science College at Tangi the very same year. Five years later, he joined another engineering college before he founded KMBB Junior Science College at Trishulia in 2016. It was during this phase that he realized that the students of the state were deprived of proper technical know-how, career guidance and co-curricular activities that were stunting their educational growth. Thus, Acharya took the bold step and began the Kautilya in 2018.
Reminiscing the initial days, he says, “We started off as a coaching centre at Chandrasekharpur to impart quality teaching mostly to higher secondary students. Later on, we joined hands with St. Xavier International Group and began integrated coaching at Nandankanan Road. Our efforts bore fruition soon since most of our students secured unbelievable marks in their board examinations and subsequently got admission at reputed government and private educational institutions. Our hands-on guidance, proper doubt-clearing classes by the experienced tutors and homely atmosphere worked wonders for the students.” Buoyed by the overwhelming response, Acharya went ahead and started an independent campus at Trishulia a few years later. The same year, the Koutilya won the ‘Best Integrated School’ award at ‘Education Excellence 2020’ which is a testimony of the hard work, dedication and focus of its teaching and non-teaching staff and students. The Koutilya Integrated School Program meant for standard 8 to 10 children offers general CBSE school courses as well as comprehensive preparation for competitive exams like NTSE, IIT-JEE, NEET and KVPY among others. The Program imparted under the able guidance of a team of highly experienced faculty gives students a competitive edge over others since their logical thinking and scientific aptitude skills are developed at an early age. The results of the course have been very heartening and bear testimony to the Kautilya’s commitment to giving the best possible guidance and learning environment to its students both in board & competitive exams.
Besides, staying true to its motto of ‘inclusive education for all’, the educational needs of meritorious students with poor backgrounds are also taken care of at the Koutilya. ‘Our ultimate goal at the Koutilya is to provide knowledge and guidance and thereby create an environment that not only steers students to the path of success, but also inspires them to recognize and explore their own potential. Our Research and Development team works round the clock to ensure that our teaching methodology, study material and course structure is constantly updated,’ he added.
Apart from academics and entrepreneurship, Acharya is a revered name in Odia music industry. Born in a family of artists and musicians, he found his love in music at a very young age and went on to compose music for numerous Odia bhajans, albums and commercial films. Acharya was the first music composer from the state to have worked with the legend Asha Bhonsle in the recent past.
Currently, Acharya is focused on his dream project, Koutilya Vedic School, a one-of-its kind residential school that is soon coming up on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar. The school, with state-of-the-art facilities for students from standard 1 to 12, is aimed at integrating ancient wisdom, values and morals with modern technology to transform the lives of children in a positive way. Besides, two more branches at Trivandrum and Hyderabad are also in the pipeline.
On a concluding note, Acharya feels that education is not a means to earn a living only but to be qualified enough to contribute to the world with a decent career. The traditional education system needs to be redefined to impart the actual values of an educated being. He urged all the educational stakeholders to come forward and collectively work towards developing the sector for a better tomorrow.
WRITTEN BY- SUBHOJIT PANDA
