Education's Heroes

In India, education is shaped not only by policies and institutions but also by the people who refuse to accept inequality as the norm. They come from courtrooms, laboratories, medical colleges, village squares, and city streets, bound by a belief that learning must be a right for all, not a privilege for a few. Some take on entrenched systems through litigation and advocacy; others create small but lasting change through libraries, community classrooms, and grassroots campaigns.

- Compiled by K Nitika Shivani

This compilation traces their stories — lawyers defending the rights of the marginalised, scientists fostering critical thinking, activists demanding diversity in elite institutions, teachers reimagining how classrooms work, and community leaders bringing learning to places the state has long neglected.

ASHOK Agarwal

Ashok Agarwal is a lawyer and education activist who works to ensure access to quality education for marginalised children in India. He is the convenor of Social Jurist, an organisation that uses Public Interest Litigations (PIL) to address issues in school education. Agarwal has taken legal action to regulate arbitrary private school fees, improve government school infrastructure, admission of refugee children in public schools, improve access and education quality for disabled children and enforce the Right to Education Act provisions for Economically Weaker Section (EWS) students. His litigation efforts have led to significant court directives compelling authorities to fulfill their educational responsibilities. Beyond the courtroom, he participates in public debates and awareness campaigns, highlighting gaps in India’s education system and advocating for systemic reform. He also works in public healthcare.

PRIYADARSHI Telang