This story goes way back to when Building Blocks was still in the testing phase. But it serves as a true testament of the product even to this day.
The Sahu family was on a train from Visakhapatnam to Rayagada, travelling for a family function – a welcome chance for an unhurried journey. Pradeep Kumar Sahu, a proud businessman from Asansol, was accompanied by his wife Padmavathi, a homemaker who also helps in his work, and their two sons: Durgaprasad, 10, and Saiprasad, 7, both students at Delhi Public School, Asansol.
Sharing their compartment was an Akshara Foundation Programme Manager from Odisha, who noticed the boys looking bored. “I had downloaded the Building Blocks math app on my tablet,” she recalls. “I introduced it to them to keep them engaged.”
Padmavathi smiled, “Sai is good at Mathematics; Durga is more into arts.” Yet it was Durgaprasad who jumped into a division exercise, despite usually shying away from math. “He enjoyed Building Blocks even more than Saiprasad, solving sums one by one,” the Manager says.
By the end of the ride, Durga declared, “This is a better way of doing Mathematics – without all the tension.”
Speaking later on the phone, Pradeep explained, “If you even mention Mathematics, Durga gets anxious. The subject frustrates him. The way schools teach math, many children just can’t grasp it. For Durga, Mathematics is not a small problem – it’s a 100% problem.” He added, “He wants to learn, but our education system doesn’t understand the kind of Mathematics children enjoy.”
On the train, however, Durga tackled division with focus. He was fascinated by Fish in a Tank, a class-3 level game where nine purple fish must be shared equally among three smaller tanks. Designed with vibrant visuals and clear voice prompts, the game transformed division into an inviting puzzle. “I never thought of division like this,” Durga said after six rounds. “It’s just equal distribution.”
“He enjoyed it so much,” the Manager notes. “He kept saying it was a tension-free way of doing Mathematics.”
Padmavathi, usually wary of handing over her phone, felt reassured: “With this, I don’t have to worry. I didn’t know such a Math App was available.”
At that time, Building Blocks was still being finalised, so the link couldn’t be shared, though the family was eager.
Months later, with the app ready on Google Play Store, the Akshara Foundation team contacted the Sahus again. The Manager still had Pradeep’s number. When the call connected through static and street noise, Pradeep warmly recalled, “Yes, yes, I remember. Durga often thinks of your app. Sai liked it too. I saw how it could help them grow in Mathematics. I dream that my sons should go far in life.”
He added, “When our boys learn from your App, other children will also see there’s something like this. Please send it to us.”
Within minutes, the Manager was on WhatsApp, sharing the link to Building Blocks – ready to spark Durga and Sai’s next round of joyful learning.
