When Vikas Tatad (M.A. ’24) came to Teachers College to pursue his International and Comparative Education degree, ​​he was driven by a profound desire to create a lasting impact. With a deep passion for child welfare and education and a commitment to raising awareness about caste-based issues, Tatad had seen firsthand the challenges faced by his community.

Currently, only 17 percent of lower-caste children in India have access to pre-primary education. “In my hometown of Bhim Nagar, Amravati, Maharashtra, India, many children did not have the access or the opportunity to go to school,” he recalls. “During my studies at the Institute of Social Sciences in 2016, I further discovered that only one percent of the population had attained a college degree. I wanted to change that.”

In the years since, Tatad has dedicated his career to accomplishing just that. A year before graduating with his master's at TC, Tatad journeyed back to India for the summer, where he launched the People’s International School, a non-profit organization that offers classes and afterschool programs for lower-caste students, serving over 150 students to date. The school's motto, "Bhim Nagar to Columbia," represents Tatad's personal journey from his humble beginnings to pursuing his education at Teachers College. “Not only do we provide academic support and mentoring for these students, but we also help them with college applications,” he shares. “This year alone, ten students went abroad for studies and many are in the process of traveling to the U.S., U.K. and  Europe.”

Tatad’s role at the People’s International School has informed his current position at Family Matters in Chicago, where he serves as the Director of the Partners in Learning Program, empowering students to reach their full academic potential. The afterschool program aims to provide accessible resources to underserved children, like tutoring, lesson plans, ESL services and even support for parents. Under Tatad’s leadership, the program has also become a platform for students to engage in social and environmental social work within their communities.

“I refer to the program as ‘a community within,’” Tatad explains. “To date, we’ve helped over 50 students from different backgrounds acquire the resources they need to be successful in school. We’re constantly working with teachers and mentors to improve our services and meet families where they are—in their very own communities.”

Throughout his pursuits, Tatad drew inspiration from Columbia University alum Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar—a “chief architect of India’s Constitution” and a champion for access to quality education for underserved communities in India. Dr. Ambedkar, who studied under the influential John Dewey, was a prominent advocate for lower-caste rights.

“Dr. Ambedkar was the first person from his community to attain the highest level of education—his academic achievements remain unmatched. Coming from Bhim Nagar slum, where even the most basic facilities were absent, I draw inspiration from his unwavering dedication to justice and equality,” shares Tatad, who during his time at TC, organized a book talk with Gita Steiner-Khamsi on the intersection of Dewey and Ambedkar’s philosophies that drew participants from over 30 academic institutions.

In a truly full-circle moment, Tatad was recognized on what would have been Ambedkar's 134th birthday this year, receiving a formal Proclamation of Honor from Jersey City Mayor Steven M. Fulop. The award commended Tatad for his “outstanding contributions to educational justice, caste equity, and the Ambedkarite movement in the diaspora” and his strides towards social and educational mobility in India. 

“It was a moment I will never forget,” Tatad reflects. “Both of my parents traveled to the U.S. for the first time to witness the special occasion, and it meant the world to have them there as I was honored for this work on a day that holds immense historical and personal significance. My experience at Teachers College was invaluable in helping me reach such a milestone.”