Three Indian changemakers remember the teachers who shaped their dreams

What Happened

Three Indian individuals who have become change-makers in education, social impact, and public guidance credit mentors from their school and learning experiences as pivotal in their paths. Manav Sony, who left a stable legal career to establish an NGO, describes a life-altering nudge from Genie Tangri, a radio jockey, who spoke about following passion and support at critical moments. Tangri also provided late-night guidance before major meetings that helped Sony win trust from a CSR client, ultimately contributing to his shift toward social work. In January 2020, after years of dialogue, Tangri encouraged Sony by urging him to pursue his dreams with confidence. Sony now leads the Funsmart Knowledge Solution Foundation, which has planted more than 4,000 trees, collected 12 tonnes of plastic waste, and impacted lakhs of people. Vaibhav Rathore, founder of Revamp India, says teachers who fostered a love of learning and encouraged him onto a performance stage when he felt fear played a key role in his trajectory. Richa Jain began online teaching using a smartphone, and she now reaches around 90,000 NET and JRF aspirants through free Hindi coaching on YouTube.

The article frames these experiences as proof that dedicated teachers can catalyze significant personal and collective outcomes, even when the classroom itself is ordinary in appearance.

Why It Matters

The stories illustrate how mentorship and belief from educators can redirect career paths toward social impact, accessible education, and public service. By highlighting concrete outcomes—tree planting, waste collection, and broad educational reach—the piece underscores the practical consequences of teacher influence on adult lives and community work.