Education in India is evolving, but not always evenly.

In this week’s episode of Parenting Reboot, I speak with Neha Gujar — a Teach For India program partner who’s been on the frontlines of education reform for over a decade.

Neha’s journey is as fascinating as it is purposeful: from a defense background to transforming classrooms and communities across India. She has seen how education can shift the trajectory of an entire family — and how much more there is to fix at a systemic level, before every child has an equal shot.

“Education can change the trajectory of an entire family — not just a child.”— Neha Gujar, Teach For India

As a teacher and now an education consultant helping rural entrepreneurs design and deliver curriculums, Neha has seen both the brilliance and the burnout of the Indian education system — and she believes the way forward lies in redefining what “teaching” means.

This conversation dives into why skill-building, empathy, and purpose must sit at the heart of the next education movement.

We also talk about:

* Why teaching should be seen as a nation-building profession — not a fallback job.

* How technology has blurred the lines between learning with children and distracting them.

* What empathy looks like in a system obsessed with marks.

* And how parents, communities, and teachers can together redefine success — to raise happier, more resilient children.

For too long, teaching has been treated as a fallback — a profession people “settle” into. But as Neha points out, the teachers who stay in the system aren’t there by chance; they’re there by choice.

Education is more than textbooks — it’s about community and care. If you’ve ever questioned the kind of “success” schools reward, this conversation will move you.

Learn more about Teach for India and the TFIx program.

Teach For India👉 Subscribe to Parenting Reboot for conversations that help us rethink modern parenting, one episode at a time.

New episodes out every other Wednesday. Follow the Parenting Reboot:

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit deepavd.substack.com

Teaching in Rural India: Why we need to rethink how we value education