Education

We look back at the past year to celebrate the changemakers who’ve transformed lives with their dedication. Here, we spotlight 10 educators from across India who have reimagined learning, inspiring young minds to dream big and break barriers beyond the classroom.

With just Rs 2 lakh and sheer ingenuity, a teacher in rural Karnataka built ‘Shiksha’ — a simple humanoid robot now helping children learn Kannada, English, and Maths across government schools.

During an experiential learning project, 13-year-old Haasini taught English at a government school and saw how children learn when classrooms feel playful, safe, and expressive. Her Children’s Day letter calls for listening to students as India shapes the future of education.

Priyatama Sharma, a librarian in Bhopal, grew up in a society where girls were considered a burden. She was sexually abused from the ages of 5 to 15. After leaving her family and starting to work, Priyatama realised the importance of education and earned a master's degree. She is speaking up to help people who endured abuse like her.

In 1965, Prof V Rajaraman launched India’s first Computer Science course at IIT Kanpur, mentoring pioneers who would go on to build the nation’s IT revolution.

Through determination and compassion, Darshna Chaudhary turned a remote Rajasthan school into a centre of hope, empowering children to dream, learn, and build brighter futures despite limited resources.

From Tonk’s AI-driven maths lessons to Pune’s smart classrooms and rural kids building robots, frontier tech is rewriting how India’s children learn. It’s not just boosting scores but building confidence, creativity, and a future full of new possibilities.

When doctors dismissed her severe period pain, Lucknow-based educator Zarine Garcia decided no girl or boy should feel the same. Through the Study Hall Foundation, her sessions have reached 4,500 students across rural Uttar Pradesh, breaking years of silence around menstruation.

Vaishnavi Anantha just couldn’t bear the endless classes and rote learning in traditional schooling. So she asked her parents to give her three months to test a new strategy. And, the results surprised them.

In Tonk, Rajasthan, an AI-led programme is helping students beat math fear and boost exam scores. IAS officer Saumya Jha’s ‘Padhai with AI’ now runs in 350+ schools.