Prof. Parag Chitale, Founder-Director, CPLC, Mumbai

An engineer from VJTI and an alumnus of JBIMS, from an early age Parag was driven by a personal ambition to do something meaningful in life. Having proven his mettle in the corporate world by working for big brands like Citibank and ICICI Bank,

the desire to pursue something meaningful and engaging soon drove Parag to restlessness. He left the corporate rat race to pursue his first love education and as luck would have it he was informed by someone that Maharashtra University was then looking for teachers with an MBA/MMS qualification to teach BMS students. Starting as a visiting faculty, his natural teaching skills saw him becoming a full time coordinator faculty at the university in double quick time while also becoming visiting faculty in various premier colleges. It wasn’t much later that S.P. Jain chased him to offer him a faculty position at the institute and Parag consented and joined them. While at S.P. Jain Parag also become associated with IMS as a guest lecturer.

Interestingly, the adoration of students at both the places coupled with the realization that the students needed a place for value education with personal attention, propelled Parag to go solo and thus he made the proverbial plunge into the entrepreneurial realms. CPLC (when it was founded in December 2002, it was known as Parag Chitale's Classes…which later cam to be known as Chitale's Personalized Learning Centre), started with a mere two faculty member team at Parag’s residence in a small room with minimalist infrastructure but abundant resolution to make a difference.

So what’s the different value proposition that CPLC has to offer – unlike institutes where success brings more impersonlised structures, Parag at the heart remains a true teacher who with growing centres and numbers doubly ensures that every member of CPLC is committed to his vision of 'Value Education with Personal Attention', CPLC takes learning one step ahead, one level deeper. Parag has definiteloy created a breather from the crammed, packed, impersonal classrooms that most CAT coaching classes provide. With just 25 students in a batch, it is more like personal tutoring, with all books, courseware and tests provided to the students. Parag has recently institutionalised a student body called FLY(Forum for Learning and Youth Leadership) ensuring knowledge sharing and skill set development for the youth.

Yourstory asked Parag, if is he planning to branch out to various cities across India to ehich he replied, “Yes, we do intend to move beyond Mumbai this year and we have consciously been slow in moving out as first we wanted to create a strong centre in Mumbai”

And what is it that drives Parag after six years of personal and professional success – “To see all my students excel and be better human beings” came the reply. Parag adds that “education has a larger role to play in shaping up lives of youngsters and I strive to ensure that students who come to CPLC don’t just prepare for CAT entrances but are better equipped to handle the challenges of life and are better people”. Now that is one inspirational driving force indeed.

Update since the story was published

FLY organized " Management Conclave 2009 " on 1st August 2009 which was attended by 700 students. The events was graced by business personalities like Ajay Piramal, Chairman, Nicholas Piramal and Bhavin Turakhia, Founder, Directi. The event was a huge success and in Parag's words,"what made it a success was the benefit the young students who attended derived from it".

For more detail please visit : http://cplc.net.in/