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He can’t see the world, but he teaches others how to understand it.
When you think of someone with a Master’s degree, you might imagine them working in a sleek office somewhere in KL. But for Prakash A/L Surriyamurthy, life has taken a very different and far more inspiring path.
At 43 years old, Prakash is a full-time home tuition teacher, travelling all over Klang Valley to teach Bahasa Melayu and Sejarah to secondary school students. What makes his story even more remarkable? He’s been blind since birth.
How it all began
Prakash was born with a condition called retinoblastoma, a rare form of eye cancer that left him completely blind after a surgery when he was just two months old. But instead of being treated differently, he was raised like any other child.
My father never let me think of myself as blind. I didn’t get special treatment. I had to do everything on my own, just like everyone else.”
That mindset shaped everything about how Prakash lives today. He went on to pursue not one, but two degrees a Bachelor’s in Bahasa Melayu and a Master’s in Counselling, both from Universiti Malaya.
Finding purpose through teaching
In 2009, while working as a counsellor at an NGO for school dropouts, Prakash met a student who had failed her SPM. She was struggling with both BM and Sejarah and something in him just clicked.
I felt like I wasn’t using my education enough. So I took it as a personal challenge. I tutored her, and she eventually passed. That was the start of everything.”
From that moment, what began as a part-time gig turned into a full-blown career. For the past 16 years, Prakash has been helping students all over the Klang Valley understand subjects they often dread especially Sejarah.
A tutor for everyone
Despite initial assumptions, Prakash says he hasn’t faced much resistance from parents. In fact, his student base is multi-racial — Malay, Chinese, Indian and Punjabi.
“Parents don’t care that I’m blind. They care about results. And once they see that, they recommend me to others” he stated
He currently earns around RM2,000+ a month, teaching 2 to 3 classes per day. On Fridays and Saturdays, he teaches larger groups at a centre in Sunway, but never more than five students per session.
Travelling all over for his students
Every day, Prakash travels to his students’ homes by LRT, Grab or with the help of a friend. His classes stretch from Puchong to Cheras, Semenyih, and Setia Alam, but he doesn’t see the distance as a problem.
“If there’s no LRT, I take Grab. If I need help, I ask a friend. That’s it. Nothing is really impossible.”
More than just a teacher
When he’s not teaching, Prakash also gives motivational talks, runs career guidance workshops, and takes on translation jobs in Malay, English and Tamil. He’s even travelled to Singapore for speaking engagements.
I want to be a well-known motivational speaker. Like Nick Vujicic but from Malaysia. I want people to know that being different doesn’t mean you can’t achieve big things.”
And here’s a fun fact: he’s also a singer. He performs SP Balasubrahmanyam and Hariharan songs at weddings and small shows for extra income.
A message for anyone struggling
For Prakash, teaching is more than just a job it’s a way to give back, stay connected to the community, and prove that limitations don’t define you.
If you love what you do, you’ll find a way to do it well. Don’t let stress or obstacles stop you. Just take the first step.”
His advice for anyone thinking of starting something new?
“You don’t need to be ‘normal’ to succeed. Whether it’s teaching, singing or something else if you believe in it, just start. You never know where it might lead.”
Want to learn from Prakash?
If you’re looking for an experienced BM or Sejarah tutor, or would like to invite Prakash to speak, perform or offer translation services, you can contact him at:
📞 010-5418178
📸 IG/@CaptainPrakash_1234
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