Featured BiographyImage source: StarsUnfolded
Quick Info
Date of birth5 August 1988
Age32 (as of 2020)
BirthplaceParitewadi, Maharashtra
ProfessionTeacher
NationalityIndian
FamilyFather - Mahadev Disale; Brother - Amit Disale
Ranjitsinh Disale Biography
Ranjitsinh Mahadev Disale is an Indian government school teacher from Paritewadi, Maharashtra, best known for winning the 2020 Global Teacher Prize for his
Early life and backgroundRanjitsinh Mahadev Disale was born on 5 August 1988 in Paritewadi, Maharashtra. Raised in a family where his father, Mahadev Disale, worked as a Zilla Parishad college trainer, Ranjitsinh grew up in the same rural community where he would later build his teaching career.
As a young man he considered a different path — he had wanted to become an engineer — but circumstances led him into teaching after encouragement from his father. He joined the Zilla Parishad Primary School in Paritewadi in 2009 as an assistant teacher and began working with children from largely tribal backgrounds.
Career
Working in a rural government school exposed Disale to the practical barriers that kept many children, especially girls, out of the classroom. He found school infrastructure lacking and observed that curricular materials were not available in the local language used by many pupils. Motivated to make learning more accessible and engaging, Disale learned Kannada and set about translating primary-level curriculum content.
A central innovation from his classroom practice was the development of QR-coded textbooks. By embedding QR codes into printed lessons, he linked pages to audio poems, stories, and video lectures in Kannada, creating a multimodal learning experience that supported non-readers and students learning in their mother tongue. He copyrighted the QR-coded textbook idea, and the concept received attention at the state and national levels. The Government of Maharashtra introduced QR-linked content across curricula, and in 2019 the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) decided to implement the approach.
Disale also initiated other locally focused projects intended to increase school participation and promote education, including efforts titled ‘Chup baith Bapu datenge’ and ‘Hour of Life.’ His classroom and community work drew recognition from national and international organizations.
Awards and recognition
Over the years Disale has accumulated multiple awards for innovation in education. Microsoft recognized two of his early projects — QR Coded Textbooks and Virtual Field Trips — as “Best Project in India” in 2015 and 2016 respectively. In 2016 he received the title “Innovative Researcher of the Year” from the Central Government of India. He was named the National Innovation Foundation’s Innovator of the Year in 2018. Microsoft also conferred on him designations such as MIE Expert, MIE Fellow, and Skype Master Teacher, and he represented India at Microsoft Education Exchange (E2) in Toronto in 2017. His work was among three stories from India mentioned by Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella in his book Hit Refresh.
Disale’s most prominent accolade came in 2020 when he won the Global Teacher Prize, the one-million-dollar award presented by the Varkey Foundation. The winner was announced on 3 December 2020 via a virtual broadcast. The victory brought public congratulations from figures including the Governor of Maharashtra, who praised Disale’s use of technology and innovation to expand educational access in rural areas. Following his win, Disale announced that he would share half of the prize money equally among the other top ten finalists to support their work.
Public profile
Disale’s recognition as a Global Teacher Prize winner elevated his profile as an advocate for inclusive, technology-supported education. His background as a government school teacher who adapted teaching materials to students’ language and context has been central to how he is publicly described. Microsoft’s engagement with his projects and his representation of India at international education events further positioned him within conversations about educational innovation.
Personal life
Ranjitsinh Disale’s family details available in public records include his father, Mahadev Disale, and a brother named Amit Disale. Other personal and marital details are not specified in the available information.
Latest updates
As of 2020, Disale was 32 years old and had received the Global Teacher Prize and related recognition for his QR-coded textbook initiative and other educational projects. His approach had been taken up by state and national educational bodies, pointing to continued implementation of his ideas within Indian curricular practice.
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Recent Work
Created QR-linked textbooks embedding audio and video content in Kannada to support early-grade students; implemented by Maharashtra and adopted by NCERT.
2015-2019Project recognized by Microsoft as a top project in India, using technology to broaden students' exposure beyond the classroom.
2016Career Highlights
- Joined Zilla Parishad Primary School, Paritewadi in 2009 as an assistant teacher
- Developed QR-coded textbooks linking printed content to audio and video in Kannada
- Won the Global Teacher Prize (2020)
- Recognized by Microsoft with multiple awards and represented India at Microsoft Education Exchange (2017)
- Named National Innovation Foundation's Innovator of the Year (2018)
- Received 'Best Project in India' recognitions from Microsoft (2015, 2016)
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