PM Shri Kendriya Vidyalaya Kondagaon teacher Vinayak Kohli has received national recognition for his innovative teaching methods that combine Bastar’s culture, art and local life with social science education.

A teacher from Bastar has brought national recognition to Chhattisgarh by transforming the way students learn social science. Vinayak Kohli, a social science teacher at PM Shri Kendriya Vidyalaya Kondagaon, has been selected as the national winner in the geography category at the India’s Best Teachers Awards 2026.The award, organised by Oxford Saïd Business School and Shiv Nadar Foundation, recognised Kohli’s innovative teaching approach. He was selected from more than 9,500 teachers across India, making him one of the youngest educators to receive the honour.

Turning Bastar’s Culture into a Classroom Resource

Kohli’s teaching model focuses on connecting textbook concepts with real-life examples from Bastar. He incorporated local culture, traditions, art forms and geographical features into social science lessons to make learning more practical and engaging for students.Through activities and a social science laboratory approach, students were encouraged to understand geography and society beyond traditional classroom methods.

Honoured by Kondagaon Administration

Following the national recognition, Kondagaon Collector Nupur Rashi Panna honoured Vinayak Kohli at the Collectorate conference hall.The event was attended by District Panchayat CEO Avinash Bhoi, Additional Collector Ajay Uraon, education department officials, principals, teachers and students.During the programme, Kohli presented his teaching model and explained how teachers can use their own skills and interests to make classroom learning more effective.

Began Presentation with Bharatanatyam

Kohli started his presentation with a traditional Bharatanatyam greeting gesture. He has been learning Bharatanatyam for the past seven years.He highlighted that every teacher has a unique skill, art form or interest apart from their subject expertise. When these talents are integrated into teaching, students become more interested and learning becomes more impactful.

Selected Through Three-Stage Process

According to Kohli, the selection process for the national award was conducted in three stages. After competing with thousands of teachers, he was invited to Delhi for the final round.There, he presented his teaching model before professors from Oxford University and other experts. Based on this presentation, he was selected as the national winner in the geography category.

Schools to Develop Geography Labs

Inspired by Kohli’s achievement, Collector Nupur Rashi Panna has directed school principals in the district to develop geography laboratories in their institutions.The initiative aims to promote practical learning methods and provide students with better opportunities to understand subjects through experiments and real-world examples.