Megha Das 
In the world of education and entrepreneurship, few names carry the weight and significance of the man behind Bachpan Play Schools and Academic Heights Public Schools (AHPS). In an exclusive interview, Mr Ajay Gupta shares the inspiring story that ignited his edupreneurial journey and the subsequent revolution in the K-12 education segment. Let’s dive into his journey and valuable insights from his exceptional career.
1) What inspired you to start Bachpan Play Schools and Academic Heights Public Schools?
There is an interesting story behind the inception of Bachpan Play Schools and Academic Heights Public Schools (AHPS). Actually, I was looking for a preschool for my daughter and got her enrolled in what was the so-called best preschool in Delhi. However, there was only one outdated book in the name of curriculum, and holistic development was a term not even heard of. There was no systematization as such in the preschool segment, so to speak. My edupreneurial journey, therefore, stemmed from my concern as a father, and since I was certain that millions of parents had the same concern, I wanted to do something to bridge the gap. That’s how Bachpan started, you know, and then went on to revolutionize the K–12 segment as well with AHPS.
2) What are some of the key factors that have contributed to the success of Bachpan Play Schools and Academic Heights Public Schools?
Well, there have been a variety of factors that have contributed to the success of Bachpan and AHPS. First and foremost, moving with the times and even ahead of it has always been our prime objective. In this respect, tech-driven learning is the norm at Bachpan and AHPS, which is also one of the reasons that makes them count among the leading school chains in India. Both Bachpan and AHPS aim to provide high-quality holistic education to students through the use of unique tech learning tools such as Speak-O-Kit (nanotechnology-based speaking books and pens), Robotime, VR (Virtual Reality), Smart Classes, and AWELI Drive (English Language Lab) developed in-house.
Furthermore, a well-structured and developmentally appropriate integrated curriculum, competent and dedicated teachers, safe and modern infrastructure, the latest teaching methods, and parental involvement are some of the other factors that make Bachpan and AHPS pioneering and successful.
3) As the co-founder of Rishihood University, how do you envision the role of higher education in shaping the future of students and society?
According to me, Higher education builds upon the foundation laid by preschooling and formal schooling and it also goes beyond it. It provides students with a platform to explore and reflect on not only ethical dilemmas but also societal responsibilities. Also, the critical thinking that higher education encourages helps students to develop their own set of values in place of accepting the status quo. Most importantly, higher education contributes to the advancement of society, as Rishihood itself puts it, by shaping future leaders and decision-makers who promote the values that result in an inclusive and harmonious society. The role of higher education is, thus, crucial to an individual and also society as a whole, and it cannot be understated, especially considering how it is meant to contribute to the betterment of communities, in the end.
4) Your book, “Decoding Business Minds,” was a best-seller. Can you share some insights from the book and how it has influenced your business ventures?
My book “Decoding Business Minds” has not only influenced my business ventures, but my business ventures have also influenced my book. “Decoding Business Minds” is actually a compilation of my 36 years of business learning and experiences. Meant for guiding aspiring entrepreneurs, the book comes with various insights and practical knowledge. Its highlight is certainly the element of job creation that entrepreneurship fosters and is the need of the hour for our socio-economic growth, in addition to how constant innovation and adaptability is the key to success for any business. It is due to these very principles that I continue to step into diverse segments. Even before the very successful Bachpan Play School chain, I had been into entrepreneurship, and even after Rishihood, there is a long way to go.
5) How do you see the role of technology in education?
I see technology as a transformative force in the context of education. It is not only because technology provides students with easy access to a vast range of information and resources. But it is also because it enables personalized learning for students and caters to their individual needs and learning styles. Moreover, interactive multimedia content and innovative tech tools serve to make learning more engaging for students and encourage their active participation. They also help to make learning more inclusive, providing opportunities for even students with disabilities. It is not only students who stand to benefit from the use of technology in education but also educators. Since technology streamlines administrative tasks, it allows educators to pay more focus on teaching and adopt evidence-based teaching practices. All of it is quite promising.
6) In a rapidly changing world, how do you see the future of education, and what innovations do you plan to introduce in your educational institutions to stay ahead of the curve?
In this rapidly changing world, I see innovation and adaptability holding profound importance in the sector of education. And since this is so, we plan to leverage technology increasingly so as to provide students with an even higher quality of education. Our curriculum would evolve as well in accordance with the changing times that focus on digital literacy, critical thinking, and life skills. Most importantly, we plan to foster international collaborations and incorporate sustainability into our system. All this would not only help ensure that we stay ahead of the curve but also that we create responsible global leaders who are equipped with the required knowledge and skills.
7) Could you tell us about your other business ventures like Prismart and Must & More Diagnostic Center and how they complement your broader vision?
As I said, tech-driven education is the norm at our Bachpan Play Schools and AHPS schools. So, in order to provide our students with the best-quality tech-driven learning, we collaborated with Prismart Productions in 2013. Since it is all in-house, we mitigate the risks that could have come with outsourcing our tech-learning needs. Prismart develops interactive e-learning tools and resources and makes use of high-quality 3D animation and design to provide Bachpan and AHPS students with the very best out there.
I founded Must & More Diagnostic Centre around the same time when I founded Prismart, and stepped into the healthcare sector. I always strongly felt the need for better infrastructure and healthcare services, especially due to my poor personal experiences with different diagnostic centres and hospitals, and since good healthcare services are a must, and more should be done in the segment, this is how we named the diagnostic centre. Both of these business ventures of mine contribute to my broader vision of creating a better world. High-quality education and healthcare are two very important factors that have the potential to make it happen.
8) Hum Honge Kamyab, the NGO you founded, is dedicated to empowering disability rights. Can you elaborate on the work and impact of this organization in promoting inclusivity and equity?
I founded the Hum Honge Kamyab (HHK) Foundation in 2018 as I firmly believed that something had to be done to increase accessibility and inclusivity in our country. As a person with a disability myself, I was very well aware of the challenges that PwDs often faced and the measures that our government was yet to take. Through this social enterprise, we aim to spread this very awareness and bring people with and without disabilities closer. We organise various programs such as Let’s KEO (Know Each Other) from time to time to achieve this goal.
We also launched the HHK Social Impact Awards for our Bachpan and AHPS students to felicitate their social impact in various categories, one of which was disability.
9) What are some of the challenges you have faced as an entrepreneur and how have you overcome them?
There were several challenges that I encountered on my entrepreneurial journey. For example, we had to start from scratch while establishing Bachpan Play School as India’s leading preschool chain. We had to integrate systematisation into an otherwise disorganised preschool segment, and that we did through an integrated curriculum, uniforms, tech learning tools, and such. Also, we had to spread awareness about the importance of preschool education since it was not considered to be important at that time. But I think perseverance and dedication can help overcome every challenge, and the rest is history.
Not to mention, I had many other businesses before Bachpan Play School, but I had to close them down and keep on coming with the better and better.
10) What advice would you give to young people who are passionate about making a difference in the world?
I believe that the journey to making a difference in the world is both challenging and rewarding, and young people should accept this fact sooner rather than later. Making a difference takes time and persistence, making a difference takes integrity and authenticity, making a difference takes constant innovation and resilience, making a difference takes calculated risks, making a difference takes a commitment to lifelong learning, making a difference takes finding one’s passion and setting clear goals, and making a difference takes so much more. Young people should just be willing to embrace it all.
As we bring this insightful interview to a close, we are left with a profound appreciation for Mr Ajay Gupta who has not only pioneered educational excellence but has also ventured into diverse fields, from healthcare to technology, and even disability rights advocacy. This interview serves as an enduring reminder that change is possible, and the pursuit of a better world for all is a journey that requires unwavering integrity, resilience, and a boundless passion for learning.
