About us
This path breaking story about the roots of our academy is narrated by our founder Komaragiri Sahadev. All the first person pronouns refer to him.
Our Roots
In 2016 I conducted a summer camp for about 20 students in our neighborhood. It was received very well. One of the parents of our students remarked thus – “my daughter was taken to many coaching camps and she never went back to those classes after attending one or two classes. This is the first time that she completed the entire course!”. That was some serious feedback! 
That was when the humble journey of Soham Academy of Human Excellence started.
Later, I conducted Spoken English classes at a Government school in Jangaon which is about 100 km from Hyderabad. The commute was taking its toll and I was not able to sustain my efforts there. However, I met some of the most amazing kids and their amazing patrons. That was our second experiment that did not go as planned but I learnt many valuable lessons in the process.
In December 2016 I conducted my first biggest experiment. This time, I visited a government school in Hyderabad and asked them if I can coach 20 of their 9th standard children in spoken English. They accepted. I worked with them for two full weeks. Encouraged by the response, I asked them if I can continue that experiment with another batch of 20 students. They agreed again! After completing the course work for these two batches, I could not wait to conduct one more session. This time, it was a new concept – Learning to Learn. This was also received very well. Repeat – for the second batch. The following summer I worked with a bunch of these kids on a new course called “Bridging the Math Gap”. The need for this course evolved from my close observation of the math skills of these kids.
Our real journey, from where we never looked back, started with these 40 students from a government school. That summer, on 9th May of 2017, we registered our non-profit to start our work in a more professional and consistent manner.
Like minded people joined and have been with us since inception. Salgam Arun Kumar hosted our first ever summer camp and introduced me to the first government school. Tipparaju Surendra introduced me to the Jangaon school. They both continued to work with me very closely. I certainly owe a lot to these two individuals. Without their help Soham Academy of Human Excellence would not have made much progress.
Our Mission
India’s schools are teeming with children with very high energy levels. Typically schools try and contain the energy levels of children with a routine that eventually shunts their raw talent. Whether it is the government schools, budget schools, or privileged schools – the story is the same. Year after year the children go through an academic rigor that leaves much to be desired. The outcome has a clear impact on nation-building and more importantly on a childhood that is lost to meaningless pursuits.
We know from experience that there are very few schools that are equipped to give well-integrated life experiences to children. The children are burdened with loads of curriculum, the majority of which will be of no use to them in their life after school. The teachers carry an excessive workload that makes it impossible for them to cater to the purpose-oriented needs of their children.
Therefore at Soham Academy of Human Excellence…
It is our mission to complement the efforts of the schools in doing what they are unable to do and in teaching what they are not equipped to teach.
Our Team
Komaragiri Sahadev
Komaragiri Sahadev did his B.E in Civil Engineering from Osmania University, Hyderabad in 1991. Later he pursued his MS in Civil Engineering from University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, USA. He worked as an IT Architect and consultant for several MNCs in the U.S for 16 years and in Singapore for 2 years. He returned to India in June 2011 with the goal of improving the quality of education in schools. He was a master trainer at Sri Sathya Sai Vidya Vahini Programme, an initiative of Sri Sathya Sai Organisation. He is a premier member of iFocus Mission where he is actively engaged in transforming youth into powerful leaders. He loves to write articles on matters related to the fields of education, Indian culture and spirituality on his blog sohamtimes.org
Smt. Gottipati Sobha Rani
Smt. Gottipati Sobha Rani did her M.Sc (Biochemistry) from Osmania University in Hyderabad in 1992. Later she did her Masters in Computer Information Systems from Cleveland State University in Cleveland, OH, USA. She worked for ABB as a quality control specialist in industrial automation. She pursued her keen interest in Samskrit by completing several certification courses. She is a trained Samskrit teacher who can converse in the most ancient language of the world. She is a volunteer at Sri Sathya Sai Vidya Vahini programme and also spends her free time in organizing Samskrit learning camps, Gita chanting programs and in assisting local kids in their academics.
Tipparaju Surendra
Tipparaju Surendra, born and brought up in Hyderabad, has always been a techno geek at heart from school days. After his schooling at Nrupatunga High School in Kacheguda, he pursued his engineering from Osmania University and his post graduation from BITS, Pilani. He started his professional career in IT and led many teams for major MNC’s across the world. He returned from the US in 2007. He is currently working as Artificial Intelligence(AI) Architect at Microsoft playing a key role in developing products and solutions for a wide range of projects. His core passion is to bring technology and people by engaging actively in various industry forums, to play an advisory role for startups and to support social activities. He writes technology articles and speaks in many industry forums in AI, management and product development. With deep love for India he is passionate to help children in developing technical and social skills to be future leaders and entrepreneurs.
Salgam Arun Kumar
Salgam Arun Kumar has done his Civil Engineering from MVSR College. Later he did his diploma course in Construction Management from NICMAR,
Pune. Worked for Patel Engg company at Jogeshweri West, Mumbai. With an interest in pursuing business he came back to Hyderabad. Founded and ran Cybersoft in 1995-96 and later started one of the premier Java training institutes in 1997, JavaPoint Computers Pvt Ltd. Trained several hundred students in Java/J2EE technologies between 1997-2001. Continued to offer Java related corporate training programs to MNCs like IBM, Verizon, Mindtree, Accenture, Cognizant, Wells Fargo etc for their induction/need-based requirements across India until
2016. Currently, he is pursuing his interest in abroad education services and he is also advising several clients as an independent financial advisor. He is passionate to network with people and entrepreneurs. He is part of BNI (Business Network International), Masonic platform, EKAL Vidyalay and Lions Clubs.
Chitti Dakshina Murthy
Chitti Dakshina Murthy, an astute finance professional, did his Masters in both Commerce and Business Administration, Six Sigma Green Belt certified and a qualified Chartered Management Accountant. He is a Fellow member of CMA, India and Associate member of CIMA UK & CGMA. He has 25 years of rich experience in industry. He worked in heavy engineering industry, Cement, Chemicals, IT industry and currently working with Oil and Gas Energy company. He is one of the Directors of ifocus mission. He has transformed many youths by coaching and mentoring. With his vast experience in Finance and Accounting, Management and Leadership skills, conducted several programs and brought several processes, procedures & systems which helped the mission on several fronts. He has received the prestigious “CMA-India” Young Achiever glittering Award in June 2015 at New Delhi from the hands of the Hon’ble Minister Dr.Jitendra Singh, Union Minister, Prime Minister Office
Kavipurapu Mukhendu Kaushik
Kavipurapu Mukhendu Kaushik is a student of law at Symbiosis law school, Hyderabad. Following the footsteps of his grandfather, Sri Kavipurapu Kameswara Rao, a renowned practicing attorney and standing counsel for AP State Housing Board Corporation, Kaushik decided to take up law as his profession. In the 2nd of year of law itself, he along with one of his friends, filed a PIL in the High Court of Judicature at Hyderabad against the inaction on part of the State of Telangana in providing remedies to those affected by flourosis in Nalgonda District. As one of the youngest public interest litigants in the country, he successfully got the TS state government to release funds to repair the damage caused by illegal dumping of garbage at Jawahar Nagar, Hyderabad. He has previously worked with a Senior Advocate of the Supreme Court, Padma Bhushan, Shri P.P. Rao, who is considered the doyen of constitutional law in India. He has also worked with several ministries, judges and other social enterprises. Through his non profit, The Spark Initiative, he wishes to formalise his social activities. He wishes to establish himself as an authority of Constitutional law in India.