Vira Kumari

A pioneering Indian social reformer who revolutionized women's education in rural India through grassroots activism

Vira Kumari (1947-2018) was a visionary social entrepreneur from the state of Bihar, India, whose work in women's education and empowerment made her a transformative figure in 20th century India. Emerging from a rural background where female literacy rates were below 10%, she founded the Sahaj India organization in 1972 to create accessible education programs for marginalized girls.

Her innovative approach involved mobile schools carried on bicycles and the development of locally relevant curricula that incorporated traditional knowledge systems. By 1990, her efforts had established 150+ schools impacting over 50,000 girls, many of whom became teachers themselves. Vira's work challenged caste and gender norms through initiatives like the Sahaj Learning System, which integrated literacy with practical skills like midwifery and agriculture. Her 1985 report Education for Liberation became a blueprint for UNESCO's literacy programs in South Asia.