Hridaykant Dewan, Hardy as he is fondly known has been closely associated with Azim Premji Foundation right from the early days of the Foundation.

Apart from being on the editorial team of our publications (At Right Angles, Learning Curve etc.) Hardy has also created specific programs for our colleagues in the field, specifically the Surpur team.

For many of us, he has been a mentor and friend. Hardy has a Ph.D. in Particle Physics from Delhi University. Even as a research scholar and lecturer at Kirori Mal college, Hardy plunged into the Eklavya movement in Madhya Pradesh to contribute to the improvement of school education. Hardy has been working in teacher development and in elementary education for the last 35 years and continues to devote his energies for systemic improvement in our public education.

In the last 15 to 20 years as Education Advisor and Organizing Secretary of Vidya Bhawan Society, he has played a similar role involving himself at every level of capacity building of the teachers and preparation of materials for children and teachers (of primary classes) and for Science and Mathematics (in elementary classes).

He has done a detailed evaluation study of the DPEP (District Primary Education Programme) efforts in Karnataka State.

Hardy is on the Governing Boards of Eklavya and Nalanda. He has also been a member of our University’s Academic Council since inception.