Rushikesh Kokare hails from Beed, a drought-prone district in Maharashtra’s Marathwada region. Coming from an agricultural family, he experienced the challenges of rural education early in life and went on to become the first graduate in his family from Pune University. He has worked with Teach For India and Lok Biradari Prakalp to support marginalised students. Deeply inspired by Mahatma Jyotiba Phule and Savitribai Phule, Rushikesh is committed to empowering girls in Marathwada by expanding access to educational opportunities. As a Young India Fellow, he aims to sharpen his critical thinking, engage with diverse perspectives, and strengthen his leadership skills to bring about social equity and uplift underprivileged communities.