Inspired by the journey of author Gurucharan Das, Sanjay Dalmia took early retirement to establish OpenLinks Foundation in 2017 with a clear mission: making government schools aspirational by improving the quality of education through supporting and motivating teachers.
The foundation's journey began with developing the first version of tickLinks in 2017, followed by partnerships with respected institutions like Ramakrishna Mission and DAV Chennai schools. By 2020, they had launched collaborations with Bharti Foundation, and in 2022, introduced their flagship Vinoba programme with Pune Zilla Panchayat.
The programme's success led to rapid expansion across Maharashtra in 2023, covering Zilla Panchayats in Nagar, Nashik, Nagpur, Dharashiv, Gadchiroli, Bandhara, Buldhana, and Washim. In 2024, they extended their reach to Chhattisgarh, working with ZPs in Raipur, Gariaband, Durg, Dhamtari, Dantewada, Janjgir Champa, and Jashpur.
Meet the team
Open Links Foundation, on LinkedIn
Sanjay Dalmia, CEO
Pravin Gaurav, Head of Operational Excellence
Vishvajit Pawar, COO
What makes OpenLinks Foundation remarkable is its governance structure. The organisation is guided by distinguished mentors including Sankar Krishnan, former McKinsey partner and ex-Pro-Vice Chancellor at Ashoka University; Divya Krishnan, former Chief Investment Officer at SBI Mutual Fund; and Rohit Malhotra, former CEO of Bharti Airtel's retail distribution, who transitioned to social work through the Indian Administrative Fellowship programme.
The operational team combines technical expertise with educational experience, led by CEO Sanjay Dalmia (IIT Delhi, IIM Ahmedabad) and includes professionals like Vishvajit Pawar, a Gandhi Fellow with 12 years in the social sector, and Dr Girish Kulkarni, recipient of the President of India Award 2012 for social work.
The foundation operates on the principle that quality education transformation requires systematic support for teachers who are at the heart of learning. Through their technology-enabled approach, they're not just providing tools but creating an ecosystem where educators feel valued, supported, and empowered to deliver excellence in government schools across India.
