Monalisa Bhakat

You can find me at Gobindo Nivas in Hatiara. The area is 700157 in Kolkata, and I'm quite close to the Lokenath Mandir. People usually use the temple as a landmark when they are trying to find the house for the first time. I teach from home, so it's a very informal atmosphere for the kids who come here. I'm Monalisa Bhakat, and I've been helping children with their lessons for several years now. It started very small with just one or two kids from the building, but now more come from all around the Hatiara area. The room I use is just a regular part of the house with a big table and some mismatched chairs. It's not like a big institute where everything is very formal and stiff. Here, we can talk and work through problems slowly until they make sense to everyone. Sometimes we even have a bit of tea while we work. I don't have a big sign outside, just a small one by the gate so people don't miss it. Most of the parents here know me by my name. It’s a quiet neighborhood for the most part, except during the big festival times at the mandir. I enjoy the teaching part of my day, even when the syllabus gets difficult or boring. I try to make sure every student really understands what they are reading. It's just a simple, local tutoring setup. No big promises, just hard work and patience. I usually finish up by seven.