Soumya Parial

This is Soumya Parial, and I work out of Baruipara Lane in the 700035 area of Kolkata. It is one of those old, narrow lanes where everyone knows everyone else. I’ve been staying here for quite some time, and eventually, I just started helping people out with their studies right from my home. The space is small, basically just a room with enough space for a few people to sit comfortably around a wooden table. You can hear the neighbors talking and the occasional tea stall noise from the corner, but it feels like home. I don't have any big signs or posters outside. People usually just find the address or ask the local shopkeepers where I am. It gets quite warm in the afternoons, so the ceiling fan is always on full speed. I usually keep a few extra books lying around for anyone who wants to look things up. My schedule varies, but I am almost always here in the evenings when the street lights come on. It isn't a corporate office or a big institution, just a simple setup where I spend my time. Sometimes the internet acts up, or the power goes out, and we just use candles or wait for the generator to kick in. It’s a very plain way of doing things, but it works for us. I like the quiet pace of life here in this part of Kolkata. It is just me doing what I can to help out while living in this busy city.