Dr. Karthik Narayanan grew up in a government school in southern India and comes from a humble, middle-class family. He often describes himself as an average student in his early years, but his hunger to learn and help others carried him forward. He earned a PhD in Linguistics from the University of Waterloo in Canada, where he was recognized as a Gold Medalist. Along the way, 2012, he was handpicked by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and spent two years working with the late president, a chapter he says helped shape his public-service mindset.
He even considered the UPSC Civil Services exam and topped the entrance, yet chose a path that let him build on education and technology in broader ways. In 2012, he began a long journey that would touch thousands of lives through practical, classroom-centered learning.
Lit Skills Learning and a Practical Vision
In 2012, Dr Narayanan founded Lit Skills Learning with a simple aim: to make learning practical and student-friendly. He trained more than 30,000 teachers in classroom etiquette and language teaching, with a focus on a child-centric approach. Across India, more than 600,000 students benefited from these efforts. The work emphasized clear communication, confidence, and curiosity—skills that help students do more than just pass exams. His Vision was simple : Every Farmers Son and Daughter in India should be able to Read, Write and Speak Excellent English. Post Covid from 2021 to 2025 under his leadership he has a team of 300 Teachers who have been actively working with Govt School students of Class 10 and 12 for their Exam coaching especially for those who have never been to coaching classes and in 2024-25 batch his students close to 11918 students have passed out in flying colors with above 98.7 % of Distinctions and toppers from State of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
Global exposure and National recognition
Dr Narayanan spent two years conducting research in the United States with a major educational software company listed on NASDAQ. The work brought international attention and opportunities for collaboration. He faced legal challenges in 2016–2019 but came through, continuing his mission with renewed resolve. In 2019, he received an International Gold Medal for Best CSR Project for “Anbudan” in the British Parliament of the United Kingdom, a milestone that underscored his cross-border impact.
Public service in crisis and community care
When the Covid-19 pandemic hit, Dr Narayanan again shifted gears to serve people in need. He founded Sugaradhana, an organic disinfectant solution. The project drew attention from health authorities and was acknowledged in a white paper released by Anna University with support from scientists. It was used not only in India but also in the United Arab Emirates, contributing to public health efforts during the crisis. Dr Narayanan’s efforts during Covid were highly appreciated by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, including a 10-minute briefing with the Prime Minister on his research.
Aerospace, Drones, National service
Dr Narayanan has long pursued his passion for drones and technology. He is an aero-modeller and a certified commercial pilot and UAV Pilot who has worked on various UAV models with a view to national service. His work on Operation Sindhoor earned praise from defense and government leaders, including a Best Drone Technology Award in 2025. The award was presented in New Delhi by Defense Minister of State Shri Sanjay Seth and was appreciated by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari as well. He is recognized as a national asset for the nation when it comes to drone technology and UAV research. Former ISRO Chairman Dr. S. Somnath noted Narayanan’s contributions during Ops Sindhoor as part of important case studies and plans for advanced operations.
Anbudan: Feeding the hungry, Serving humanity
Dr Narayanan founded Anbudan, a food bank that has served 17,000 meals across 41 cities in South India for 15 years. This quiet effort operates without fanfare, focused on feeding people in need rather than chasing media attention or publicity. It’s still on and going on very strong.
Last rites for orphans and a promise kept
He also initiated a service for the last rites of orphans who have been left without families. Beginning in Tiruvannamalai, this work has continued as a silent, ongoing commitment to dignity and compassion in death, a testament to Narayanan’s belief in serving humanity at every stage of life.
A broader village transformation project
Post Covid 2021, Dr Narayanan has initiated about adopting 1000 villages to create a global model of sustainable growth. The plan centers on training 1,000 rural youths in education and social entrepreneurship, with a special focus on empowering women. The aim is to demonstrate practical, scalable change that can be replicated in other regions.
A Simple motto, A Lasting impact
Colleagues and friends describe him as a simple man who walked the country to show what transformation looks like. He embodies the belief that faith and effort travel farther than money. He has a daily practice of Nama Japa and feeding street dogs, routines that reflect his grounded approach to leadership and service. He remains deeply grateful to his guru, whom he credits for guiding his path.
What’s next
If you’re writing for a regional or national audience, you can frame Narayanan’s work as ongoing, with a steady focus on rural education, community service, and technology-enabled development. His life story highlights how sustained, practical action—without drama or headlines—can build a more humane and capable nation. Live & Let Live is his mantra and credits Moto racer and Actor Ajith Kumar for the same.
