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Agarkar’s must-reads Getting Personal with Inquiry
Learning by Kath Murdoch (Corwin,
Educationist, parenting expert 2015)
and teacher educator, FATEMA This is a concise and well-structured guide
AGARKAR is co-founder of the for teachers to take inquiry-based learn-
Mumbai-based Agarkar Centre ing beyond technique and make it person-
for Excellence (ACE), a firm ally meaningful. The author contends that
providing K-12 education con- it’s important for educators to find their own connection to
sultancy, sports and life skills inquiry, so they can stimulate student agency, curiosity and
programmes. An alumna of ownership of learning. Practical, reflective and classroom-
Mumbai and Birmingham uni- ready, it offers clear pathways for teachers to make inquiry-
versities, Agarkar served with led learning meaningful and transformative.
Commerzbank, Times of India and Egon Zehnder Interna-
tional before switching track to education consultancy in Sinha’s reading list
2000. Since then, she has facilitated the promotion of over
40 private schools countrywide. SAURAV SINHA is princi-
pal of Mayo College, Ajmer
This Kind of Child: The Disability Story by K. Srila- (estb.1875), ranked In-
ta (Yoda Press, 2012) dia’s #1 Ivy League board-
This book offers a multi-perspectival ing school in the EW India
understanding of the lived experience of School Rankings 2025-26.
children with disability, cultivating the An alumnus of Delhi Uni-
empathy so urgently required. It urges versity and London School
readers to move beyond merely “un- of Business, Sinha acquired
derstanding” neurological differences, a wealth of business man-
and instead ask how we can learn from agement and administration
and derive inspiration from the unique experience in banking, healthcare, and digital marketing in
strengths of neurodivergent individuals. For teachers in London, Europe, and Singapore and returned to India to
particular, the book is a powerful reminder of the trans- establish the digital business of Walt Disney Co (India) in
formative potential of nurturing children with disability. 2008, before switching track to teach English and econom-
ics in top-ranked schools including Welham Boys, Pathways
The ONE Thing by Gary Keller with Jay Papasan World School, Gurgaon and Harrow International School,
(Bard Press, 2013) Bengaluru.
This book helps professionals — especially teachers — iden-
tify their “one thing”: the single priority that matters most. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho (HarperOne, 1988)
By encouraging focus and intentionality, it cuts through This book, which made Paul Coelho an international lit-
daily clutter, reduces stress and helps educators reclaim en- erary star, is a simple yet profound tale about following
ergy and clarity in their work. For teachers navigating work one’s dreams. Through the growth and development of a
overload, it offers a valuable pause and practical framework young shepherd, it imparts enduring lessons on positive
to make purposeful focus an integral part of their profes- thinking, courage, resilience and self-belief. Written in a
sional development trajectory. simple, engaging style, it is an excellent book to recommend
to children and young readers as a gentle introduction to
Imagine: No Child Left Invisible by Shelja Sen the joy of reading and reflective thinking.
(HarperCollins India, 2023)
The author says, “… learning is about Sophie’s World by Jostein Gaarder
the magical relationship the teacher (Aschehoug, 1991)
builds with each child, it is about build- An engaging introduction to Western phi-
ing emotionally safe, inclusive spaces losophy, Sophie’s World presents a con-
for creative learning — this is the heart, densed history of philosophical thought
the lifeblood, the bare bones of learn- woven into a novel with elements of
ing.” This book reminds educators that mystery. Through the passage of a young
emotional connection is not an add-on girl, readers are introduced to the major
to learning, but its very heart and life- philosophers and ideas of the past three millennia. It is an
blood, making it essential reading for teachers to provide excellent gateway for teachers to develop philosophical cu-
experiential child-centred education. riosity.

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