22-year-old Abdulla is in his final year of a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce at CVRM Degree College in Venkatagirikota, Andhra Pradesh. He credits Agastya International Foundation for much of the success he has experienced in life so far. In 2012, he participated in Agastya’s signature Young Instructor Leader programme, in which talented students improve their leadership abilities through peer-to-peer teaching. His experience in YIL has continued to shape his life today.
His father owns a small juice shop in the village of Santipuram, Andhra Pradesh, which provides sustenance for Abdulla and his seven siblings, and his mother looks after all of them. Prior to his first introduction to Agastya in the sixth standard, Abdulla was often scared and timid in the classroom, but when he became a Young Instructor Leader (YIL) the next year, his confidence soared.
The instructors gave him opportunities to take the lead on small projects. Their trust helped him overcome his fears and find the confidence necessary to thrive as a student instructor.
Abdulla completed the responsibilities assigned to him with precision and an earnest desire to learn. The YIL programme helped him lay the foundation to develop strong leadership skills, enabling him to actively pursue teachers’ training and take up self-awareness programmes. His growth as a YIL role model has continued to benefit him as he has become a leader in his community.
A Commitment to Giving Back
The YIL programme only chooses the brightest and best students, but Abdulla took the honor as an opportunity to give back to those less fortunate. Along with some like-minded classmates, he launched a tutoring centre to help more than 85 underprivileged students with their studies.
Agastya’s programmes also helped spark his interest in keeping his community clean. He was particularly inspired by the organization’s commitment to the “Swachh Bharat Abhiyan” — “Clean India Mission” — philosophy, with its emphasis on cleanliness, good health, and a clean environment.
Still, arguably most influential was Agastya’s introducing him to the world of mimes, acting, drama and short films, which eventually led him to content creation.
In April 2021, during the lockdown imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic, Abdulla decided to use his extra time productively and created a YouTube channel, which he called “MC Creations”. Supported by finances and resources from his friends, he directed three short films — “Jai Bharat”, “Donkumanupalli” and “Corona Kastam” — to showcase his talent. As a new-age content creator, his takes on romance, factionalism and corruption in the country have resonated with his channel’s 3,400 subscribers and 1.7 million viewers.
“The art of storytelling requires poise, passion, and intellect,” reflected Abdulla on his keys to success.
Still, he was very clear that creating content is only a hobby, as he has larger ambitions. Instead, his true passion lies in erasing crime and corruption from the country. In order to chase his dream, he is preparing for the Group 2 exams in 2023, paving a pathway for him to join the Central Bureau of Investigation.
More than a decade after joining the YIL programme, Abdulla still looks fondly back upon his days with Agastya, expressing gratitude to his schoolteachers for introducing him to the organization and its methods. Agastya’s consistent support and motivation, along with the scholarship and career guidance, was invaluable in convincing him to pursue his passions. His love for Agastya remains so strong that even though he is no longer in school, he continues to talk to his instructors and engage with students whenever he visits the campus.
“Agastya has played a major role in building important qualities in me,” he said, “like self-awareness, courage and decision making.”
