Nashik teacher Kunda Jaywant Bachhav felt education should be a continuous process. It  was never meant to stay within four walls. She wanted children to learn wherever they went. So, she turned the walls of Anandwali village into something unexpected. More than 30 walls were transformed into “Dnyan Bhinti” or Walls of Knowledge, carrying maps, English words, maths shortcuts, puzzles and general knowledge.

For children, learning was suddenly everywhere. A walk through the village could become a lesson.

When walls became books

Bachhav also launched the Mission Mobile-Free initiative. The idea was simple: encourage children to spend less time on mobile phones and more time learning. Walls near their homes became sources of knowledge. Instead of scrolling through a screen, children could stop and read. It was a simple idea, but it changed the way education reached the community.

Bachhav's vision did not end with painted walls. She wanted children to discover the joy of books too. So, she helped establish a public library with around 2,000 books inside a temple in Anandwali.

Helping girls dream bigger

For Bachhav, education also means ensuring that financial difficulties do not end a child's dreams. She brought together community support to help needy girls continue their studies. More than 100 girls have been encouraged to pursue higher education, with some going on to study fields such as engineering, CA, BCom, MPSC and ITI.

Her work has also focused on science. Through STEM-based learning and experiments, she encouraged students to move beyond memorising lessons and start asking questions. Her STEM initiative won second prize at a state-level Maharashtra SCERT innovation competition. She also received a ₹1 lakh Sharad Pawar Fellowship, which she invested in the education of her students.

From one classroom to national recognition

Bachhav has embraced technology too. Her work in digital education has included participation in educational initiatives linked to NCERT and SCERT. In 2024, she served as a resource person for an NCERT-CIET webinar on improving teaching and learning through EduBlog.

Her efforts have now brought her national recognition. Bachhav is among the 48 school teachers selected for the National Teachers Award 2026. On September 5, Teachers’ Day, President Droupadi Murmu will honour the awardees at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi.

For Kunda Bachhav, however, the biggest achievement may not be the award. It is the child who discovers a new word on a village wall. The girl who continues her education despite financial struggles. Or the student who picks up a book simply because one was placed within reach.