Tara Institute

Tara Institute is on the second floor of the C 25 building in Aliganj. It’s right near Nehru Bal Vatika, which is a nice landmark if you're trying to find us for the first time. The Alkapuri Tiraha intersection is always buzzing with people and rickshaws, so there’s never a quiet moment outside. Climbing the stairs to the second floor is our daily exercise. The office isn't huge, but we've managed to fit enough desks for the students who come by. We have some old cupboards filled with files and old test papers from years ago. I usually get here before the sun gets too hot to get the fans going. It’s a practical space. We don't spend money on fancy decorations because that's not what the students are here for. They just want a quiet corner to focus. Lucknow can get quite dusty, so we spend a lot of time wiping down the tables. We know most of the shopkeepers downstairs, and we usually get our samosas from the corner shop in the afternoon. It’s a friendly atmosphere, even if we are strictly about the work when classes are on. People find us through word of mouth mostly. We’ve been in this Aliganj spot for a bit, and it feels like home now. The walls could probably use a fresh coat of paint, but the current shade of off-white does the job for now.