More than a million children who have never been schooled are estimated to have been reached by Rouble Nagi’s educational initiative across India.
What began 24-years ago with 30 children in a small workshop has grown into 800 learning centres and murals used to teach literacy, mathematics and history among a wide range of subjects.
Now her work, and that of her Art Foundation, has been recognised by the World Governments Summit which earlier this month awarded her its $1 million Global Teacher Prize.
Speaking to Euronews after receiving the award, Rouble Nagi, an art and social science teacher from Mumbai, said the honour was overwhelming and deeply personal.
“If I had enough words to explain what I’m feeling right now. I think I’m short of words. I’m humbled beyond words. So much to be thankful for,” she said. “This is for my country, India. I’m just so overwhelmed right now, thank you so much.”
The Rouble Nagi Art Foundation employs initiatives that use creative expression as a gateway to learn in slums and rural communities. Over two decades, her work has helped transform lanes, courtyards and neighbourhood walls into what she calls “Living Walls of Learning”.
Asked why art sits at the heart of her approach, Nagi said it allows educators to connect across social and economic barriers.
“I’ve always believed, and I always say that art is one medium that helps you connect to people very easily,” she said. “It breaks the barriers between you and children, between you and people living in villages, slums, cities, anywhere.”
She described how her earliest murals quickly drew children into learning spaces driven by curiosity rather than compulsion.
“So art is that one medium that gives you a sense of belonging,” she said. “A lot of children who are not very good at expressing verbally can express through art.”
Nagi said creative learning goes far beyond painting, incorporating poetry, drama and music to make education accessible and engaging.
“I always say, let’s make learning fun because when you’re having fun learning something, you don’t need to worry about anything because you just instantly learn,” she said.
Reflecting on who the prize belongs to, Nagi said it represents the children she has worked with and those who continue to be left behind by traditional systems.
“I think this award is for all the children of my country,” she said, adding that she would also dedicate it to India’s prime minister for his vision for national development.
The prize money, she said, will allow long-held ambitions to become reality, including expanding learning infrastructure in conflict-affected regions.
“For the last few years, we have been wanting to do a school, a learning centre, a skill centre, a computer lab in Kashmir,” she said. “I guess that dream would come true now.”
Nagi also used the moment to address teachers who may not have won awards but continue to shape lives daily.
“I would say this is for every teacher in the world,” she said. “Teachers mattered earlier, but they matter the most now for motivation, for inspiration.”
She added that education remains the most powerful tool for social change.
“When you educate one child, you don’t educate one household, you educate the whole village,” she said.
Having worked with children across India for years, Nagi said her reach has grown from small workshops to more than a million students, and she has no intention of slowing down.
“I feel every day of your life is the first day of you at work, and you have to keep going,” she said. “Every child in India in school is what my dream is.”
Winning the prize on a global stage has also opened new possibilities beyond India.
“To be recognised on such a huge global platform is itself a huge honour,” she said. “God has opened a larger window for me to interact with the educators from across the globe.”
Reflecting on her first experience at the World Governments Summit, Nagi said the gathering of global leaders and educators had left a lasting impression.
“I think it’s really great, because conversation leads to things that we want to do,” she said. “When you are on the same level of conversations and ideas in your mind, I guess the best results come.”
Watch the full interview with Rouble Nagi from the World Governments Summit in the video above.