Located in the bustling town of Amingaon, Guwahati, the 62 - Amingaon Lower Primary School is the only source of education for the residing communities. With its cheerful facade and vibrant environment, the school is home to many dreams and aspirations, one of which belongs to a bright 10-year-old boy, Ujjal Das. Ujjal is a fifth-grade student aspiring to follow the footsteps of his role model and become a recognised face in the field of cricket.

"I want to become a cricketer when I grow up. My favourite player is MS Dhoni. I love batting and scored up to 50 runs in a game. I’ve crossed 100 in test matches, and I’m even the team captain. My highest wickets have been 4 in an over! I dream of playing for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL one day," he says, with his eyes sparkling in excitement. “My father also loves cricket. My parents have promised to put me in cricket coaching classes.”

Ujjal lives in a joint family with his grandparents, parents and a sister. "I live with my mother, father, younger sister and grandparents. My mother’s name is Pratima Das. She is a tailor and teaches others how to tailor as well. My father’s name is Amal Das, and he works as a driver," he says, describing his family. Ujjal continues, "My sister is too young for school, but she goes to the Anganwadi.”

His dedication to cricket is phenomenal. Balancing his sports aspirations with academics, Ujjal maintains a disciplined routine. Describing his routine, Ujjal says, “I sleep at 9 PM and wake up at 5 AM.  We also have a couple of ducks at home. In the mornings, I play with them before heading to school. After returning from school, I sleep for a while. In the evening, I go out to play cricket with my friends. Post dinner, I complete my homework and go to sleep on time.” “ I also enjoy playing soccer, and Messi is my favourite player," he adds.

Ujjal receives mid-day meals from Akshaya Patra every school day. Speaking of the food, he says, “The food is very good and tasty. My favourite meal at school is pulao from the Akshaya Patra mid-day meal menu." These meals aid in Ujjal’s mental and physical growth, giving him the energy to follow his passion for cricket.  

The Akshaya Patra Foundation’s school feeding programme has been a game-changer for Ujjal and 2.2 million children like him. The nutritious meals Akshaya Patra serves are an effort to implement PM POSHAN Abhiyaan in government schools. These efforts align with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 2 and 4)— eradicating hunger and providing quality education. With balanced and healthy meals, Akshaya Patra ensures that children do not go hungry and focus better on their studies and extracurricular activities.