Learning often requires sharing. Conversation triggered by curiosity and a bit of irreverence makes the playing field a bit more levelled. Is not learning always reciprocal? Can we share our vulnerabilities to bring compassion in the classroom and outside?

Creativity implies treating constraints from which many learners from humble backgrounds suffer, as an opportunity for experimentation and innovation. No teacher has answers to all the questions. Collaborating with peers, students, strangers, and even community members to seek answers makes collaboration a crucial pedagogic tool and a purpose. 

Shodhyatra through every state of India has taught us numerous lessons in converging shared learning goals in and out of the classroom.

About the Speaker

Dr. Anil K Gupta, a Padma Shri recipient, is a renowned independent thinker and activist. He passionately advocates for the empowerment of creative communities and individuals, be it at the grassroots, in technology institutions, or in any other domain dedicated to fostering a more collaborative and innovative world.

As a visiting faculty member at the IIM(A) after having taught there for four decades, Dr. Gupta holds a wealth of experience. he is a Fellow of prestigious organisations such as NAAS, WAAS, and INSA.

Dr. Gupta is the founder of several influential initiatives, including The Honey Bee Network, the National Innovation Foundation, SRISTI (Society for Research and Initiatives for Sustainable Technologies and Institutions), and GIAN (Grassroots Innovation Augmentation Network).

In 2016, his book Grassroot Innovation received the prestigious Best Business Book Award at the Tata Literature Festival.

As part of his remarkable journey, Dr. Gupta has embarked on 43 shodhyatras—learning walks that spanned every state in India — covering over 5000 kilometres from 1998 to 2016. He has since initiated a second round of shodhyatras in 2017, collaborating with dedicated volunteers from the Honey Bee Network.