Amitabh Behar

A visionary social entrepreneur who pioneered inclusive education systems in rural India

Amitabh Behar (born 1965) is a transformative figure in India's social development landscape, best known for co-founding the Azim Premji Foundation in 1999. His work focused on reimagining primary education through community-driven models, establishing over 15,000 village learning centers across 12 states. Behar's approach emphasized teacher training through immersive residential programs, documented in the UNESCO case study Pedagogical Innovations in Rural India. His 2003 initiative 'Education for All' campaign led to a 40% increase in enrollment rates among marginalized girls in Rajasthan. Behar's theories on participatory governance influenced the Indian government's 2009 Right to Education Act. His work continues through the Sangath social innovation network, which now operates in 20 countries.