From Classrooms in India to UNESCO

'Living Conversations' is now featured on UNESCO's official platform as a recognized 'Good Practice'.

From Classrooms in India to UNESCO

Coming from a humble background and being a reserved teenager myself, I deeply understood what it feels like to struggle with confidence, communication, and self-expression. Somewhere in my own journey from a shy student to a life skills educator, I realized that education must go beyond grades and placements.

There are moments in a journey that quietly remind you why you started in the first place. Today is one of those moments for me.

In 2020, after returning from CHUO UNIVERSITY (Japan), I got the incredible opportunity to be part of a groundbreaking initiative — School for Life at UPES (India).

During the uncertainty and isolation of COVID, I designed and led a life skills module called Living Conversations. What started as an academic idea soon became a work of heart.

Coming from a humble background and being a reserved teenager myself, I deeply understood what it feels like to struggle with confidence, communication, and self-expression. Somewhere in my own journey from a shy student to a life skills educator, I realized that education must go beyond grades and placements.

It must help young people speak. Listen. Connect. Express. Believe in themselves.

That belief became Living Conversations.

Day after day, we worked through every detail of the module — designing activities, building experiences, training facilitators, and ensuring meaningful delivery even in an online environment. It was challenging, exhausting, and beautiful at the same time.

And then something magical happened.

Students opened up. Conversations became deeper. Confidence grew. Voices emerged. Human connection returned in a time when the world felt disconnected.

Between 2020 and 2023, Living Conversations impacted over 20,000 students, helping them strengthen communication, interpersonal skills, empathy, active listening, and confidence — skills essential for employability, entrepreneurship, leadership, and life itself.

Today, that journey has reached a deeply meaningful milestone.

I am proud to share that our life skills module, “Living Conversations: Strengthening Students’ Interpersonal Skills and Confidence,” has been officially approved, validated, and published by UNESCO under the global call for “Good Practices for Accelerating Progress towards SDG 4.”

School for Life is now featured on UNESCO's official platform as a recognized Good Practice meeting global criteria including effectiveness, sustainability, scalability, ethical soundness, partnerships, and relevance to SDG 4.

But this achievement does not belong to one person. It belongs to every student who courageously participated in conversations. Every trainer who believed in experiential learning. Every mentor, colleague, and leader who trusted the vision. And every young person whose life was touched through this training module.

This is more than recognition. It is a reminder that meaningful education can truly change lives.

From classrooms in India to UNESCO — the journey continues. 🌏

Grateful. Humbled. Inspired.

“Sometimes the most powerful revolutions do not begin with noise — they begin with a conversation that helps someone believe in themselves.” 

Read more here: "Living Conversations": Strengthening Students' Interpersonal Skills and Confidence

When One Conversation Changes the Script

One honest conversation later, a 30-day commitment was born. Moments like these reaffirm why we do what we do.

When One Conversation Changes the Script

Sometimes students don’t need advice — they need to be heard. What began as a routine walk turned into a powerful reminder: behind a “carefree” label is often a capable young mind waiting to reconnect with purpose. One honest conversation later, a 30-day commitment was born. Moments like these reaffirm why we do what we do.

Today, something quietly powerful unfolded.

As part of my usual routine, I stepped out of my office for a short walk — my small reset after long hours of sitting. What I did not expect was that this ordinary walk would turn into an extraordinary moment of connection.

A few days ago, concerned parents had met me to discuss their daughter. Their worry was visible — the kind that comes from watching potential slowly drift. They described her recent carefree attitude with deep anxiety. I had assured them that I would try to speak with their ward if the opportunity arose.

Today, that opportunity found me.

As I saw her walking by, I immediately remembered my conversation with her parents. I gently offered my time, and we soon found ourselves sitting under the shade of a tree — two people, one honest conversation away from a possible shift.

I began simply: asking about her wellbeing, her routine, how she was feeling. I assured her that she could speak freely. What followed was not resistance — it was release.

She spoke.

She spoke about her worries, her aspirations, and the quiet battles she had been fighting. Beneath the surface, a clearer picture emerged. Once a brilliant school student, she had gradually slipped into patterns of escapism and oversleeping. Hostel life, a difficult roommate dynamic, and a series of broken friendships had slowly chipped away at her rhythm and confidence.

Yet something important was still alive.

Her spark had not disappeared — it was only buried under layers of overwhelm and helplessness. She wasn’t indifferent. She was lost. She wasn’t incapable. She was stuck.

Then came the turning point.

During our conversation, she casually mentioned that her father was her closest confidant — her “best buddy.” I gently reminded her of the day her father sat across from me, visibly worried yet deeply hopeful for his daughter.

Something shifted.

You could almost see the moment the message landed. Her posture changed. Her eyes steadied. The language of helplessness slowly gave way to the language of ownership.

A few minutes earlier, she was speaking like a victim of circumstances.

Now, she was speaking like a volunteer of her own life.

She surprised me — and perhaps herself — when she made a clear commitment: for the next 30 days, she would track her daily progress and consciously work to turn things around.

No dramatic lecture. No complex framework. Just presence, listening, and one emotionally anchored reminder.

Moments like these reaffirm a powerful truth: many young people are not lacking ability — they are lacking alignment, emotional anchors, and someone who pauses long enough to truly listen.

Sometimes, transformation does not begin with a grand intervention.

Sometimes, it begins under the shade of a tree… with one honest conversation… and a young mind choosing to step back into its own power.

And today, I was grateful to witness exactly that.

“Sometimes the most powerful intervention is simply being present when someone is ready to change.”

Signing Off 2025 With Deep Gratitude

Gratitude has been the quiet strength behind this long doctoral journey.

Signing Off 2025 With Deep Gratitude

Wishing you a New Year filled with clarity, growth, and quiet courage—one step, one choice, one transformation at a time. ✨

Gratitude has been the quiet strength behind this long doctoral journey.

I am sincerely grateful to Dr Richa Chilana for standing by me when it mattered most—offering encouragement and belief during challenging moments.

My deepest thanks to Aswani RS, Ph.D, whose patience, persistence, and unwavering faith guided me through every high and low. Your mentorship shaped both my research and my growth as a scholar.

I also thank Dr. Zac Fitz-Walter, whose serendipitous podcast introduced me to gamification long before my formal PhD began. Your pioneering work sparked my curiosity and helped define the direction of my research. Your able guidance has been extremely intrumental.

Heartfelt thanks to Dr. Amaresh Jha, Shambhu Sajith Ph.D and Dr. Shivam Joshi for their kind support, thoughtful suggestions, and collaborative spirit.

My appreciation extends to Dr. Atri Nautiyal for his steady leadership and support throughout this journey.

This journey also carried its share of late-night team meetings with gamification experts and scholars, seemingly endless rounds of rigorous literature reviews, and a constant inner push to complete this humongous work—even while navigating chaos and conflict.

I am thankful to UPES for a supportive academic environment, to my entire

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#SchoolforLife team for the early nudge and belief in my work, and to my students, whose engagement and feedback added depth and meaning to this research.

And, my deepest gratitude to my parents, my brother Saurabh Mishra, my sister Priya Mishra, and my son Shivang—my constant cheerleaders. Your belief and love were my greatest strength.

This thesis is not mine alone.

It carries the faith and support of many.

Signing off 2025 with deep gratitude

𝑫𝒓. 𝑮𝒂𝒖𝒓𝒂𝒗 𝑴𝒊𝒔𝒓𝒂🙏✨

A Leadership Reset: Reflections from IHERC 2025

Leadership is far less about authority and far more about responsibility, humility, and presence.

A Leadership Reset:
Reflections from IHERC 2025 

As I sat there, notebook open but mind fully present, a few leadership lessons stayed with me long after the sessions ended. I look forward to building on these insights as I continue my work in the higher education ecosystem—trying, in my own small ways, to lead with clarity, compassion, and purpose.

I returned from IHERC 2025 at the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi feeling grateful, inspired, and quietly reflective. Two days immersed in conversations on higher education, research, and leadership have a way of slowing you down—in a good way—and nudging you to re-examine what truly matters in the work we do.

One of the most special moments for me was what I can only describe as a fanboy moment. Listening to Prof. V. Ramgopal Rao and Mr. Kiran Karnik—two leaders I’ve admired since the very beginning of my professional journey—was both grounding and energizing. Their words didn’t feel aspirational in a distant sense; they felt deeply real, shaped by lived experience, failures, and hard-earned wisdom.

As I sat there, notebook open but mind fully present, a few leadership lessons stayed with me long after the sessions ended.

✓ I was reminded that leadership begins with communicating the vision clearly, not just to the top few, but all the way to the bottom of the organization. A vision that isn’t understood widely rarely moves people meaningfully.

✓ Another powerful reminder was about ownership—taking charge of failures without hesitation, and generously attributing success to the team. That quiet shift in mindset says more about a leader than any title ever could.

✓ What also struck me deeply was the emphasis on choosing battles wisely. Not every fight deserves energy. Knowing which challenges to confront and which ones to let go of is an underrated leadership skill, especially in complex academic and institutional ecosystems.

✓ Leadership, I realized again, is also about translation—turning vision into values, and values into everyday behaviours. Big ideas only matter when they show up in small, consistent actions.

✓ There was also a strong emphasis on leading by example. Not by instruction or authority, but through conduct. People observe far more than they listen.

✓ Another takeaway that resonated with me was the importance of emotional connection, alongside rational clarity. Teams don’t just need direction; they need to feel seen, heard, and valued. Logic may guide decisions, but emotion sustains commitment.

✓ Leaders, I was reminded, must provide direction and actively remove obstacles, creating space for others to do their best work. And perhaps most importantly—even when people disagree with you, listen. Disagreement, when met with openness, often carries the seed of growth.

As I reflect on these lessons, one thought stands out clearly: leadership is far less about authority and far more about responsibility, humility, and presence.

I look forward to building on these insights as I continue my work in the higher education ecosystem—trying, in my own small ways, to lead with clarity, compassion, and purpose.

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Gratitude, Growth, and the Gift of Teaching

#gratefulthankfulblessed2025

Gratitude, Growth, and the Gift of Teaching

Today, I am grateful. Today, I am grounded. And today, more than ever, I am committed to the beautiful calling of teaching.

Today, my heart feels heavier—in the most beautiful way.

Not with burden, but with gratitude.

Receiving the #TeacherOfTheYearAward2025 from UCOST (Uttarakhand State Council for Science and Technology), ONGC Limited, and SRADSTA (Society for Research & Development in Science, Technology and Agriculture) under the 6th Dehradun International Science and Technology Festival is a moment I will cherish for a lifetime. 

But this recognition is not just an award; it’s a quiet whisper from the universe reminding me why I chose this path… and why this path chose me.

Teaching has always been more than a profession. It is the one thing that has consistently lit up my soul. Long before degrees, awards, or titles, there was just one simple truth—I love teaching because I love watching my students grow.

This award carries within it the weight of a journey:

the struggles no one saw,

the late nights of planning and preparing,

the constant learning, unlearning, and relearning,

and the unwavering belief that education can change the course of one's life.

Every classroom I’ve walked into, every student I’ve interacted with, every challenge I’ve stumbled through—they have shaped me in ways no textbook ever could.

I often tell my students that they are capable of greatness, but the truth is… they are the ones who taught me greatness. Their resilience, their curiosity, their dreams—those are my driving force. My students are not just learners; they are my purpose.

To my mentors and colleagues—your belief in me has held me steady on days when I doubted myself.

To my parents—your support is the home my spirit always returns to.

To everyone who has been part of my journey—thank you for standing with me, cheering for me, and reminding me of the power of sincere work.

Achievements like this don’t happen in isolation. They are built through countless hands, countless hearts, and countless moments of kindness, guidance, and faith.

As I hold this recognition close, I feel not pride— but responsibility. A deeper responsibility to keep showing up with sincerity, courage, and hope.

To continue shaping minds, touching lives, and creating learning spaces where every learner feels seen, heard, and valued.

Today, I am grateful. Today, I am grounded.

And today, more than ever, I am committed to the beautiful calling of teaching.

#gratefulthankfulblessed2025

From Dream to Reality: My Journey to the United Nations

#FromDreamToUN 

From Dream to Reality: 
My Journey to the United Nations

Being at the UN was more than just a personal achievement—it was a reminder of why I started this journey. It was about contributing to a larger cause, lending my voice to important conversations, and learning from others who are equally committed to making the world better.

As I stood there—surrounded by flags, history, and voices shaping the future—I couldn’t help but think back to my graduation days. Back then, the idea of visiting the UN felt so far away. It was a dream I carried quietly, never knowing how or when it would happen. At that time, all I could do was work hard, stay committed to my values, and make a difference wherever I could.

Life, I have learned, has its own way of rewarding quiet perseverance. Opportunities rarely come from chasing recognition; they come from chasing excellence. Every small project, every volunteer hour, every late night spent working on something meaningful—these were the stepping stones that eventually led me to this global platform.

Being at the UN was more than just a personal achievement—it was a reminder of why I started this journey. It was about contributing to a larger cause, lending my voice to important conversations, and learning from others who are equally committed to making the world better.

I carry with me a quote that has guided me for years:

"Do not wait for extraordinary circumstances to do good; try to use ordinary situations." — Charles Richter

You don’t need a big stage to start making an impact. Your everyday actions—helping a friend, mentoring someone, starting a small community project—matter more than you think.

To every young dreamer reading this: keep showing up. Keep doing the work. Even when no one is watching, you are growing. The seeds you plant today may take years to grow, but when they bloom, they will take you places you never thought possible.

And who knows? One day, you might find yourself standing at the United Nations—not just as a visitor, but as a representative of your dreams, your work, and your country.

 ******

6 Years of Impact

6 Years of Impact

Here’s to many more years of Project Utthan, uplifting hearts and creating lasting impact! 💙

Six years ago, in November 2018, we embarked on a journey of hope and change with Project Utthan. From its humble beginnings, this initiative has been supporting underserved communities, providing education, and implementing impactful initiatives to empower lives. 

We take immense pride in the fact that Project Utthan is not only Uttarakhand’s first self-funded social welfare initiative but also a UN-recognized one. 

It is a transformative force that has positively touched countless lives—both of underserved children and the passionate volunteers who have made this mission possible. 

As we reflect on these incredible six years, we also look forward to continuing this journey—spreading love, promoting growth, and making meaningful contributions to society. 

Here’s to many more years of Project Utthan, uplifting hearts and creating lasting impact! 💙

******