In this special edition of Talk Time, we are delighted to host Adhirath Sethi—author, CEO, changemaker, and a storyteller driven by the power of ‘what ifs’. With his debut non-fiction book, The Moving of Mountains (Penguin Enterprise), Adhirath offers a deeply insightful and moving account of the 25-year journey of the Agastya International Foundation—one of India’s most impactful grassroots education movements.
From his early years shaped by spirited debates and books to his global academic exposure at Eton and LSE, Adhirath brings a rare blend of intellectual rigour, business acumen, and empathetic storytelling. As CEO of Poly Fluoro Ltd., Trustee of Agastya, and Chairman of Navam Foundation, he works at the intersection of innovation, purpose, and impact.
In this candid conversation with Samata Dey Bose, Adhirath opens up about his writing process, the emotional and logistical challenges of telling a 25-year-old story, and why Agastya’s model of hands-on, curiosity-driven learning could reshape education—not just in India, but globally.
1. Welcome to this session of Talk Time. Adhirath Ji, share a brief about you, your family and education with my readers.
I grew up in a household where books and debate were everyday currency. My parents were business people, but on my mother’s side, they were very successful corporates. This gave me an appreciation for the challenges of each.
My early schooling at Rishi Valley laid a foundation for quiet reflection and curiosity. Later, I went on to Eton College and then the London School of Economics—two places that taught me both grit and global perspective. Today, I work across sectors—as the CEO of Poly Fluoro Ltd., Trustee of the Agastya International Foundation, and Chairman of Navam Foundation. My wife and I live in Bangalore, where we try to keep up with our son—and our very demanding Jack Russell Terrier.
2. What inspired you to document the story of Agastya Foundation in The Moving of Mountains? Was there a defining moment that made you realize this story had to be told?
The idea had been around since 2019, but the pandemic paused things. When it resurfaced in 2021, I felt a deep pull to take it on. Agastya had been a part of my life since childhood, and I had a ringside view of its growth. What struck me most was how little-known the story was, despite the massive impact. This wasn’t just a nonprofit—it was a movement. And I felt it deserved a narrative worthy of that legacy.
3. As a trustee and someone closely associated with Agastya, how did your perspective change while writing this book—from insider to storyteller?
As a trustee, you see the strategy and impact metrics. But writing the book meant diving deep into the soul of the organization. Speaking with over 100 people—educators, donors, children, field staff—changed the way I understood Agastya. What emerged was not just a narrative of scale, but one of integrity and quiet resilience. I went in expecting to tell a success story. I came out inspired by the humanity behind it.
4. You come from a background in business and consulting. How did that shape your approach to writing a book about grassroots educational innovation?
Consulting taught me to structure complexity. Running a business taught me to live with chaos. Writing about Agastya meant balancing both—bringing order to an inherently organic journey. My approach was to listen first, frame second. I was itching to write the story, but I waited until nearly 90% of the interviews were done before putting pen to paper, as I didn’t want to bias my narrative in any way.
The book became a synthesis of hard strategy and soft emotion—because that’s exactly what drives Agastya.
5. What was the most emotionally moving or surprising interview you conducted while researching for the book?
There was an instructor who told me that even after years of teaching, he still felt nervous before each session. Not because he lacked confidence—but because he wanted to do right by every child. That kind of unmeasured integrity doesn’t show up on spreadsheets. It floored me. It struck me as such a typical illustration of Agastya’s soul. It is a foundation whose currency is humility.
6. Many people dream of writing a book. What challenges did you face in shaping The Moving of Mountains—both logistically and emotionally?
The logistics were intense—hundreds of hours of interviews, mountains of notes, and the task of compressing 25 years into 300-odd pages. Emotionally, the challenge was in doing justice to the spirit of the people I spoke to. These weren’t just anecdotes; they were lives shaped by purpose. The pressure wasn’t just to write—it was to honour. Given number of people that I spoke with and the number of perspectives that they brought in, it was always challenging to ensure that the book did not become little more than a series of quotes. Weaving these perspectives into the broader story around Agastya’s evolution was immensely challenging but I hope I have done justice to the same.
7. The book outlines a 25-year journey. What are some of the lesser-known moments or turning points that you felt deserved wider recognition?
There were many, but one that stands out is how Agastya evolved during the pandemic. From a hands-on organization, it pivoted to remote learning almost overnight—WhatsApp classes, origami science kits, and a digital platform called WeLearn. It’s a masterclass in agility rooted in values.
8. The title The Moving of Mountains is powerful. What does it signify to you personally—and to the spirit of Agastya’s work?
In Indian mythology, the sage Agastya asked the Vindhya Mountains to bow so he could pass—and they stayed bowed in his honour. Agastya was also known as a scholar, a scientist, and as someone that spread education across the subcontinent. The Agastya Foundation, named after the sage, has done something similar: it has moved the immovable and brought creativity and curiosity to the furthest reaches of India. It is a tribute to vision, perseverance, and transformation against all odds.
9. How do Agastya’s models of mobile labs and hands-on science learning challenge traditional education paradigms in India?
Agastya flips the script. Traditional education often teaches children what to think. Agastya teaches them how to think. When you bring a mobile lab into a village and let kids break things, experiment, and ask “why,” you’re not just teaching science—you’re cultivating independence and inquiry.
Education is no longer about knowledge delivery. Today, facts have be democratised to the point that knowing something does not necessarily hold a premium. However, the journey of discovery is still not accessible to all. In effect, we’re no longer asking What did the child learn?’—it’s, ‘What did the child come to believe about themselves after learning.
10. The book makes a case for science, creativity, and curiosity as tools for poverty alleviation. Can you explain how this model creates lasting impact?
Poverty isn’t just material—it’s also the absence of agency. When a child learns to ask “why,” they start to see alternatives. That spark of curiosity becomes the seed of innovation, leadership, and self-belief. Agastya doesn’t just teach kids science—it teaches them to believe in possibility.
A story that features in the Moving of Mountains tells the story of Shravani whose family was struggling financially and whose father had decided to sell their only cow. Drawing on the methods of problem solving she had learned as a Young Instructor Leader (YIL) at Agastya, she pushed her family to put off selling the cow and instead encouraged both her parents to take on additional shifts in the short term. Eventually the cow gave birth to three calves and the cow’s milk allowed the family to supplement their income to the extent that Shravani eventually went to college. This wasn’t simply science learning – it was applied empathy and the ability to think through a problem under crisis.
11. What role did girls in rural India play in shaping the success of Agastya’s innovation hubs? Any stories that stood out to you?
Girls have often been the quiet revolutionaries. A number of anecdotes illustrate the impact on Agastya when girls have stepped forward and demanded to be counted. Agastya’s first large science fair was looking like it might be doomed for a lack of enough teachers (they had planned for 500 students but were told that 5000 were keen on attending the fair). It was a group of girls that stepped forward and suggested that if Agastya trained them in concepts of science, they could in turn manage the stalls at the event and train their fellow students. This is not only saved the fair but set plans in motion for Agastya’s peer-to-peer learning initiatives and the Young Instructor Leader program that has become such an integral part of Agastya’s outreach.
In effect, the greatest impact Agastya has had is in instilling confidence in children that may have otherwise held themselves back. By infusing in them the idea that curiosity and creativity can be powerful tools of change, they have lent volume to the meekest of voices.
12. In an age dominated by edtech and AI, what does Agastya’s grassroots, tactile approach teach us about scalable, inclusive education?
That technology is only as powerful as the intent behind it. Agastya proves that even low-tech solutions—when rooted in trust, creativity, and empathy—can achieve scale. The future of education isn’t just digital. It’s personal, hands-on, and human. Having said that Agstya is also using the digital medium to expand its reach. Creating a hybrid between the physical and digital – what we call the phygital model – will allow Agastya to reach its ambitious goal of 100 million children by 2032.
13. What do you hope policymakers, educators, and donors will take away after reading The Moving of Mountains?
That real change is mindset-deep. We often chase scale through infrastructure or curriculum reform. But Agastya shows that transformation happens when you build cultures of curiosity and trust. If we can internalize that lesson, we can re-imagine education not just for India, but for the world.
14. Agastya has been featured globally, including on Netflix. Do you see this book as a catalyst for further international collaboration or awareness?
Absolutely. The goal was never just to tell Agastya’s story—it was to spark dialogue. If The Moving of Mountains can inspire collaborations, partnerships, or even just new ways of thinking about education, it will have done its job.
15. From your research, what makes Agastya’s model not just replicable but sustainable in the long run?
Three things: clarity of vision, investment in people, and relentless curiosity. Agastya hires people for their spirit, not just their skill. It evolves constantly but never loses sight of its core values. That’s what makes it sustainable—and inspiring.
16. What’s next for you as a writer and changemaker? Are there more stories from the grassroots you feel compelled to tell?
There are always stories worth telling. While fiction is my comfort zone, this experience has been transformative. If I find another narrative with as much heart and relevance as Agastya’s, I’d happily take up the pen again.
17. Adhirath Sethi the Author – Describe in 1 line.
A storyteller drawn to ‘what ifs’ and the infinite possibilities that emerge from there.
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