Meet Master Shaurya Kabra, the boy on a mission to make a difference

We can always learn a thing or two from our children and the younger generation when it comes to making this world a better place. Thinking about the modern day heroes who are introduced to children in classrooms, we often notice that these are all adults who made a difference, and rarely young teenagers. While they may often feel too young to make a difference, at times they stand out and prove themselves better off than anybody else. Our very young expert for today, Master Shaurya Kabra, is one of those. Read on to know more..

About Shaurya Kabra: Shaurya is a 17-year-old young boy who is well beyond his years when it comes to maturity and his worldview and outlook on life. He carries his responsibility effortlessly and this tells a different story about him. Shaurya Kabra is not one to take the easy route to achievement. Nor the much trodden part. Within him beats a heart of gold, and one that bleeds for his lesser privileged compatriots. Displaying remarkable clarity on matters societal, environmental and economic, he has launched–at his tender age–two wonderful initiatives. These ventures aspire to empower the not-so-fortunate with the basics of financial literacy and thus help them maximise their own resources and also share his passion for fintech with his peers. And so, at an age when teenagers are occupied with obsessive devices, Shaurya set his mind on his mission and launched two initiatives: a platform named “SimplyFintech” and a book named “Ek Prayaas”. Simply Fintech is a platform that introduces and educates young individuals about Fintech; demystifying for them that complex world through sessions delivered by Fintech experts. Both these initiatives are an attempt to radiate his own financial knowledge and tap on knowledge of the experts in the field so that it can benefit others.

Q1. Do you think financial literacy should be given in schools to children from all types of backgrounds?

SK: Financial education is a long-term process. If included in the curriculum early on, it will allow children to acquire knowledge and imbibe responsible financial behaviour as they grow. This is important since most parents are ill-equipped to teach their children about money, because financial literacy levels are generally low among people who are financially weak.

Q2. When did you realise you wanted to do something for the rural masses? What were your broader goals when writing your book, Ek Prayaas?

SK: There was no specific instance when I realised that I wanted to do something for the rural masses. Nearly 68% of India’s population that lives in villages struggle with literacy, have limited access to information, and no access to proper banking facilities. Unbanked people borrow from ruthless moneylenders, pay exorbitant interests and are unsuccessful in breaking the poverty cycle. I understood that financial inclusion would instil the habit of saving and investing, give them access to formal financing and lessen their exposure to economic shocks.

Realising that it was vital to educate them from a young age, I decided to take the first step forward with my book, Ek Prayaas. I have used simple language and a story format, fairy tales and interactive crosswords and activities to make it easier to understand and engage the rural and tribal population.

As I began writing Ek Prayaas, I understood the scope and extent of the problem I was trying to tackle. I realised that children from low socio-economic backgrounds have never had the opportunity to study or access resources as I did. I realised their lack of knowledge could be keeping them from having a more successful life. That’s when I decided that I had to do something for the rural masses. Ultimately, my broader goal became clearer—to better prepare children for the future by laying the foundations of financial understanding.

Q3. You are still very young and a student yourself. How did you manage time to do additional research and come up with this planned initiative?

SK: I wrote the initial draft of this book when I was studying in the 10th Grade. During Covid, we were all studying from home and had spare time, too. Finance has always interested me and made me want to explore. But, even swamped with schoolwork and extracurricular tasks, I just had a chance to express my ideas about it. Under my school supervisor’s guidance, I wrote an initial, very rough draft of my book. I had more time to work on my passion as the summer vacations arrived. I, then, refined the language and worked on the creative elements of the book. The research involved reading books on investments for kids, sending a Google form to children and getting their opinion on the structure/creative diagrams needed for the book, understanding and developing precise specifications for the structure and creative diagrams. I also researched topics required for the book and made the information concise and easy to read. Moreover, to cover more students, I got the book translated into different languages.

Q4. What are your long-term career goals?

SK: Although I haven’t mapped out anything yet, I wish to pursue finance in future. I want to study finance and entrepreneurship at the university. After that, I hope to gain some work experience and eventually start my own venture. I wish to gain enough knowledge to pursue my ideas and dreams.

Q5. Did you ever observe the rural masses of the country? What about them triggered you to take forward the initiatives of SimplyFintech and Ek Prayaas?

SK: I’ve always been aware of the socio-economic and income disparities among various communities in our country. One such experience of mine was when I visited Juchandra village in the tribal areas of Maharashtra. The interaction with the local children was truly humbling and also made me appreciate the challenges of the underprivileged. Although I have been fortunate enough to have the resources to study, gain education and have parents who have constantly helped explain ideas to me, I believe that others don’t. I believe it is important for me to spread the knowledge I have access to, to the people who don’t. This was the main motivator behind Ek Prayaas and SimplifyFintech. I don’t think there was any specific instance or experience that sparked this idea, but more a general sense that I have always possessed.

Q6. Lastly, who do you derive your inspiration from?

SK: I derive my inspiration from my parents. They are the two most hard-working people I know. Knowing that they are out there working so hard to achieve their goals makes me want to work towards my goals, as well.

There are many teens and young adults who take steps, be it big or small, to address some of the biggest issues in the world. They inspire hope for our future generations and as our expert Shaurya Kabra says, once you understand the scope and extent of the problem, you are good to go.