For Uddeshya Sachan, the memory of being asked to leave school because his family could not pay the fees never really faded. His father was a tailor and his mother a homemaker. Growing up in a modest household in Kanpur, Sachan had seen his father struggle to keep up with household expenses and his son’s education. Then came a point when the family simply could not afford his school fees.“I was removed from school because my father did not have money to pay the fees,” Sachan told The Better India. The experience stayed with him long after he returned to school.Years later, that difficult memory became the reason he decided to do something for children who faced a similar barrier. In 2019, Sachan started Gurukulam- Khushiyon Wala School in Kanpur, initially with just five children and a whiteboard. What began as a small effort to teach children from nearby slums has since grown into a free educational initiative that has reached hundreds of students.
Sachan initially used Rs 300 given by his mother to print pamphlets and spread the word about his free classes in Kanpur.
From five children under a tree to a school for hundreds
Sachan did not have a large building, a team of teachers or substantial funding when he started. According to GNT, he initially received around Rs 300 from his mother, which he used to print pamphlets announcing his free classes. He distributed and pasted them around nearby areas, hoping children would turn up. On the first day, only five did.The classes initially took place under a tree. Within about six months, the number of children had risen to around 70. The growing group eventually moved into a rented room.But just as the initiative was beginning to find its feet, the Covid-19 pandemic brought another setback. The rented space had to be given up and the classes were disrupted. Sachan turned to social media to tell people about his work. Videos about Gurukulam began receiving attention- thus donations and support followed.By 2026, Sachan’s Gurukulam has already opened its doors to around 400 children over time.
‘Children are usually taught only how to succeed’
Gurukulam is not designed simply as a place where children memorise lessons and prepare for examinations. Sachan believes education should also teach children how to navigate life. “Children are usually taught only how to succeed. But, I wanted to also teach them how to enjoy life,” he told The Better India.The school’s approach includes academics as well as activities such as music, theatre, documentaries, yoga, meditation and discussions. Reports have also described lessons involving practical skills, psychology, business skills, robotics, artificial intelligence, crafts, gardening and farming.A report by Gaon Connection quoted one student, Neha Rajput, explaining the school’s philosophy simply: “We don’t sit according to classes, we sit according to interest.”
What began under a tree with five students eventually grew into a free learning initiative that has reached around 400 children in Kanpur.
A school for children who may otherwise be left out
A large number of Gurukulam’s students come from economically disadvantaged families and nearby slum settlements. Some, Sachan told The Better India, are orphans.The idea is not necessarily to replace conventional schools. Children who already attend school can also come to Gurukulam after their regular classes, while the initiative provides learning opportunities to those who might otherwise have limited access to education. “There’s a very homely environment,” Sachan said while describing the school to The Better India.
His own struggles shaped the school he wanted to build
Sachan’s path to becoming a teacher was not straightforward either. After completing school, he worked at dhabas and hotels and later at an ice-cream factory while also completing his graduation in philosophy. He has spoken about feeling uncertain about what career to pursue and eventually deciding that he wanted to use his education differently.The experience of struggling for his own education gave him a clear understanding of what a missed opportunity can mean. “I was removed from school, and so, I created a school that is for anyone and everyone,” he told The Better India.Over the years, the school has evolved from a whiteboard and a handful of children into a larger space with multiple rooms and facilities. For children who have grown up amid financial uncertainty, the school offers something that cannot easily be measured through examination results- a space where they can ask questions, discover interests and imagine possibilities beyond their immediate circumstances.Gurukulam’s journey has not been free of challenges. Sachan has spoken about depending on donations and facing difficulties in keeping the initiative running. He has also said that there were occasions when banners were torn down and he faced opposition. Yet he continued. His ambitions have grown alongside the school.Sachan now desires to develop facilities such as smart classrooms, robotics and biological laboratories and sports facilities. His larger aim is to create an environment where children become self-reliant rather than simply chase marks. As Sachan puts it: “One day, Gurukulam’s name will spread around the world as the school that teaches people lessons for life.”