SHASHI THAROOR
Shashi is an Indian Politician, Writer and former International Diplomat. He is currently serving as Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha Kerala. He was also formerly Under-Secretary General of the United Nations. Shashi served as a Minister of State for External Affairs and Minister of Human Resource Development. Acting as Cabinet Minister when The Right To Education (RTE) Act was first brought into law and made significant contributions to the act during his career.
He has an extensive knowledge of RTE Act and has played an active part in implementing it. Knowing the ins and out of Indian education. Due to the level of knowledge he has on the topic of Indian education and his professional opinion on educations current state and what needs to be done from a government point of view to improve it. Throughout the documentary, his insight and to the point facts are eye-opening.
URMILA CHAUDRY
Urmila works for a Non-Government Organization (NGO), called Peepul. Working in partnership with the government to improve education. Supporting and running a number of the government schools and training teachers to work at these schools.‘Peepul’ aims to provide education and enhance the lives of disadvantaged Indian children. In order to provide the best possible start for these children. Urmila is an ex private school teacher in Delhi, but after her school refused the new EWS rule to allow 25% of their seat to poor children, she left the school with no job or source of income. Questioning why she had become a teacher in the first place. Urmila has a modern perspective of the problems and issues with the Right to Education Act and sees the direct failures of implementation of the government schools of India. She has a very up-to-date and insightful view and opinion on how it can be improved and what needs to change in the future.
COLONEL GOPAL KARUNAKARAN
The Colonel is the CEO of Shiv Nadar School and President of the Shiv Nadar University. While in the Indian Army, he was chosen for the United Nations Mission in Kuwait in a multi-lateral and multicultural environment. Gopal’s belief in education as a tool for social transformation has driven him to absorb rich and diverse experience across all facets of school education including policy, academic relationship, operations and business; and has helped him gain important perspectives on the key drivers of the education sector in India. He has been a member of the National Committee of Education of the confederation of Indian industries since 2008 and was a part of the team which formulated draft proposals to the government on the 'Right To Education Act’. Gopal's participation in schools, universities and education speakers for itself, making him the perfect subject for my documentary.
YASMIN MURPHY
Yasmin Murphy narrated 'The Right To Educate' and is a professional voice actress based in the West Midlands. Some of her previous work includes feature films, such as Lady Silent (2015), television show Doctors, and presenting work for companies like Samsung. Yasmin was very interested in the topic of ‘The Right to Educate’, having spent 5 months in India. She showed a very genuine understanding and interest in the film and the message it was highlighting. Yasmin adapted greatly to COVID-19 restrictions and recorded the narration remotely.