(May 31, 2025) In everything that he does, Adhirath Sethi strives to leave behind something meaningful. That very thought process has been the driving force behind propelling his business to newer heights, writing impactful books and coming up with effective strategies and ideas to carry forward the good work done in the non-profit organisations he is deeply associated with.
Among them is the Agastya International Foundation — an Indian education trust which won the Google Global Impact Award in 2013 and was ranked among the top 100 global innovators by The Rockefeller Foundation Next Century Awards.
“Agastya’s story, while deeply rooted in India, has a universal relevance. Its vision of transforming education through creativity and curiosity has drawn interest from educators across the world,” says entrepreneur-author Adhirath Sethi, in a chat with Global Indian.
Adhirath Sethi
Determined to share this extraordinary journey with the world, Adhirath decided to chronicle it in a book. The Moving of Mountains tells the remarkable story of Agastya International Foundation, highlighting how innovation in education can bring a revolutionary change, lifting the poorest of the poor out of poverty. “It also serves as a blueprint of how meaningful changes happen in India when a group of people, united by vision and purpose, come together to build something unique like Agastya,” says Adhirath.
Founded in 1999, Agastya Foundation runs one of the world’s largest hands-on science programmes. Its operations, which include mobile science programs and phygital and digital education programs, are spread across 22 states across India, reaching 17 million children and over 300,000 rural teachers.
The Moving of Mountains
The idea for the book was floated in 2019, but like many plans, it was put on hold due to the pandemic. It found new life in 2021, when Adhirath stepped in to take on the role of author. “I spent the first half of 2022 speaking to over 100 individuals across Agastya’s ecosystem — frontline educators, donors, board members, and senior management,” informs Adhirath.
He says the book emerged as more than just an institutional history. “It became a repository of insights, philosophies, and lived experiences,” says the Bengaluru-based author, who feels writing was both a privilege and a responsibility — to do justice to the spirit of an organisation that has quietly transformed the lives of over 25 million children.
He describes it as an altogether different kind of writing experience. “It was deeply personal, and in many ways, my attempt to understand what makes a nonprofit not just succeed, but endure.”
Guiding Lights: Kalam & Jhunjhunwala’s Impact on Agastya
Among those who played a role in Agastya’s journey is former President of India APJ Abdul Kalam and billionaire Rakesh Jhunjhunwala.
“President Kalam played a pivotal role — not just as a supporter, but as a philosopher-mentor in Agastya’s journey. His endorsement of Agastya’s work gave the foundation legitimacy and inspiration,” says Adhirath.
Kalam’s momentous visit to Agastya’s campus in 2012 remains a highlight not only for the hundreds of children who flocked to campus that day, but to the Agastya team, which saw the power that a transformative mind could have in shaping the attitudes of young learners.
Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, Adhirath says, was one of Agastya’s most generous supporters who believed that true impact required scale, innovation, and patience. “Jhunjhunwala saw Agastya’s vision very early on and remained committed throughout his life to bringing that vision to life. It would be difficult to find a stauncher cheerleader for Agastya. Without him, Agastya may never have achieved the scale it did.”
His legacy lives on today as the R Jhunjhunwala Foundation continues to be Agastya’s largest single donor.
Driving Vision: Adhirath’s Multifaceted Role at Agastya
As a trustee of Agastya, Adhirath juggles a range of roles — strategic, operational, and at times, simply observational. “Agastya operates at a scale that’s both exciting and humbling,” he says.
His involvement includes working with the leadership team on vision-building, helping with fundraising, and lending support wherever he can—whether it’s with storytelling, outreach, or strategy. “What I admire most about Agastya is its commitment to building not just smart children, but confident, curious, and compassionate individuals,” points out Adhirath, adding that their mobile science labs have been studied as models for low-cost innovation across the world.
Partnering Potential: Linking Innovation with Impact through Navam
Adhirath also serves as the Chairman of Navam Foundation, which works in partnership with Agastya International foundation.
“With Agastya, it’s about reaching children with transformative learning. With Navam Foundation, the focus is more commercial in nature, as we try and take Agastya’s knowledge capital and monetise it using the private school network,” he says.
The end-goal is to generate funds that can then be used to subsidise various Agastya programmes. “What both foundations share is a belief that the people we work with already have the potential. The role of an NGO is not to “give” them anything, but to create the right conditions for that potential to thrive.”
Pages of Purpose: Adhirath’s Evolution as a Writer
Writing has always been Adhirath’s go-to passion. His first book, The Debt Collector’s Due, came out in 2015. “It was inspired by the very real and often absurd challenges of recovering dues in a small business in India,” he says.
His second novel, Where the Hills Hide their Secrets (2019), is set in a fictional hill town in post-colonial India. “It weaves themes of nostalgia, social hierarchy, and secrets that never quite stay buried,” says the author. Building on his storytelling journey, The Moving of Mountains became his third book — a departure from fiction.
From Eton and LSE: The Making of a Global Thinker
Born in Bengaluru, Adhirath did his schooling at Rishi Valley School, which, he says, was transformative in many ways. “It was a space that valued independent thinking, quiet reflection, and a connection with nature.”
From 1999-2001, he studied at Eton College in the UK, which was a very different experience that taught him to adapt quickly. “It was a complete culture shift. Coming from Rishi Valley, which was nestled in nature and emphasized simplicity, I found myself in a world of traditions, formality, and expectations,” he recalls.
Adhirath says it was also a place that taught him how to stand his ground, how to debate ideas rigorously, and how to navigate difference with grace. “Eton taught me that language is perhaps the most powerful tool a person can have. When you can hold your own and defend an argument, people usually take notice and involve you in their ideas,” he points out.
He later studied at the London School of Economics (2001-2004) which deepened his interest in economics and policy. “This was where my interest in economics and finance took shape. So much of what I do today is grounded in concepts drilled into us in college,” says Adhirath.
When running a business, there are hundreds of moving parts which can get overwhelming. “A foundation in economics and finance allows you to very quickly create a picture when presented with different sets of data. It is imperative to decision making and to managing cash flows.”
Agastya Foundation
Both Eton and LSE, in very different ways, shaped his worldview. “One gave me grit, the other gave me perspective,” sums up Adhirath, who immensely values global exposure as it helped him understand how local solutions can often have global resonance.
Storytelling in the Making
Growing up, Adhirath was always passionate about storytelling. “I read a lot — everything from Tolkien to Wodehouse — and was fascinated by the way writers built entire worlds through words,” he recalls.
Rishi Valley encouraged hand-written letters, so writing home became a way of life that carried on even when he moved to England.
He also enjoyed debating, music, and dabbled in theatre. “Academically, I held my own, but it was always the broader conversations—history, economics, the way systems work—that intrigued me most.”
Boardrooms to Shopfloors: Adhirath’s Leap from BCG to Business
Adhirath took what was probably too eager a plunge into entrepreneurship in 2008, joining his family business—Poly Fluoro Ltd.—as Director and later CEO. “We work in high-performance polymers, which may sound niche, but it’s a fascinating world where materials science meets real-world engineering.”
Growing the business has been both challenging and rewarding. “It taught me resilience, negotiation, and above all, the importance of long-term thinking,” he says.
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Prior to entrepreneurship, Adhirath worked as a management consultant with the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) in Mumbai from 2004-2007. “It was a whirlwind experience—high-intensity projects, steep learning curves, and very smart people. I worked on everything from telecom strategy to post-merger integration,” elaborates Adhirath.
He says BCG taught him to break down complex problems, ask the right questions, and frame solutions that are both analytically sound and practically feasible. “That thinking framework has stayed with me and continues to inform my approach to both business and nonprofit work.”
Looking Ahead: Impact, Innovation, and Ink
“In the business, I’d like to expand our footprint in advanced engineering plastics and bring in more sustainability-focused products,” informs Adhirath.
In the social sector, helping Agastya reach its vision of 100 million children is a goal he is deeply invested in. “And as a writer, I have a couple of new manuscripts taking shape. Hopefully, they’ll see the light of day soon.”
Beyond the Desk: Passions, Pages, and Purpose
Adhirath reads widely—fiction, history, and psychology tend to dominate. “I’m a fan of authors like Amitav Ghosh, Anuradha Roy, and Adam Grant,” says the entrepreneur-author who enjoys classic rock, jazz, and the occasional dive into Bollywood nostalgia.
Travel is a constant source of learning. “My happy place is Bangalore’s Terminal 2 – because it’s usually the start of a new family vacation. We love beach holidays – scuba diving is a common thrill – and try and enjoy as many culinary adventures as we can when we travel,” he adds.
In every role he plays — entrepreneur, author, trustee — Adhirath Sethi is driven by a quiet conviction to build, to inspire, and to leave things better than he found them. Through storytelling and social impact, he continues to shape ideas that matter.
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