Campus Times | Lucknow Dr Iftikhar Khan, an art teacher at Government Inter College (GIC), Ballia, has been selected for the National Teachers Award 2026 for his innovative contribution to education and his sustained efforts to make art accessible to students.President Droupadi Murmu is scheduled to honour Dr Khan on Teachers Day, September 5, as part of the national awards recognising teachers for their exceptional contribution to education.Hailing from the small village of Keekodha in Sikanderpur, Dr Khan has spent years nurturing artistic talent among students, offering fine arts education without charging fees. Over the course of his teaching career, he has trained an estimated 2,000 to 2,500 students in fine arts. More than 200 of his former students are now working with reputed companies in India and abroad, reflecting the long-term impact of his mentorship.One of the most distinctive aspects of Dr Khans teaching philosophy is his approach to guru dakshina. When a parent once insisted on offering him a traditional gift in return for his guidance, Dr Khan asked for just one thing — plant a tree.The idea gradually became a part of his educational approach. He began encouraging students to plant trees in public spaces, linking education and artistic development with environmental responsibility. For him, the gesture was not merely a substitute for a traditional offering but a way of instilling social responsibility among young learners.From Science Student to Art EducatorDr Khans own journey into art was not planned initially. He began his college education in the science stream. His direction changed after he drew a portrait of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi during his college years.The experience brought him into contact with teacher Raghubansh Mani Pathak, whose encouragement played a decisive role in shaping his interest in art. Dr Khan subsequently pursued formal education in fine arts,

Campus Times| Lucknow Indian artist and social reformer Rouble Nagi has won the $1 million GEMS Education Global Teacher Prize 2026. She received the award at the World Government Summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, for her remarkable contribution to education and social change. Often referred to as the “Nobel Prize of Teaching,” the award recognizes Nagi’s two-decade-long efforts to transform India’s urban slums into vibrant, open-air classrooms through art-based learning. The prize was presented by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, along with Sunny Varkey, Founder of the Varkey Foundation, in collaboration with UNESCO. Rouble Nagi was selected from over 5,000 nominations across 139 countries, bringing global pride to India.Mumbai-based artist, muralist, and social reformer Rouble Nagi has won the prestigious $1 million Global Teacher Prize 2026 at the World Government Summit in Dubai. The award recognises her two decades of work in transforming India’s urban slums and underserved communities into vibrant learning spaces through art-based education.From Art to Social ChangeBorn in Jammu & Kashmir and trained at the Slade School of Fine Art in London, Nagi first gained recognition for her sculptures and murals. She later redefined the idea of a classroom by founding the Rouble Nagi Art Foundation (RNAF), using art as a tool to bring education directly to children living in poverty.Misaal Mumbai InitiativeThrough RNAF’s flagship initiative “Misaal Mumbai,” Nagi has painted and repaired over 1.55 lakh houses in slums and villages across India. Her work has helped integrate more than one million children into the formal education system and establish over 800 learning centres in more than 100 underserved communities and villages.Living Walls of LearningNagi was honoured for her innovative concept “Living Walls of Learning,” where abandoned and broken walls are transformed into interactive educational murals. These murals teach