Dr Amit Singhal on a mission to transform lives through education

(October 2, 2024) Dr. Amit Singhal knows the power of education. Growing up in Jhansi, a town in Uttar Pradesh, he saw firsthand how a commitment to learning could transform lives. His great-grandfather was a humble bicycle repairman, who, despite his own limitations, understood the value of education. This legacy passed down the generations until it reached Amit, whose journey from a small town to Silicon Valley would redefine not only his own future but that of hundreds of underprivileged children.

Today, his Sitare Foundation is changing lives in India, helping bright students from low-income families break through systemic barriers and access quality education. Alongside his wife Shilpa Singhal, a fellow academic, Amit returned from a high-flying career at Google to bring the opportunities he had back to children in India. “Fundamentally, education is the only sustained way out of poverty,” he said, reflecting the belief that drives his mission. The Singhals believe that empowering children with quality education is the most powerful legacy they could offer.

Family Tradition of Learning

Growing up in Uttar Pradesh, Amit came from a line of men who knew little privilege but placed their bets on one unbreakable thing: education. His great-grandfather fixed bicycles on the roadside. His grandfather, with only permission to study, made it to college and became a teacher. Amit’s father was the first engineer in the family, attending IIT Roorkee. And, as his turn came, Amit took education as his family’s inheritance and enrolled in computer science at IIT Roorke before setting his sights on the United States with nothing but a few dollars and dreams of doing something impactful. He pursued a master’s at the University of Minnesota and later earned his Ph.D. from Cornell University. “The only thing every generation gave the next generation was education and no money,” he said in an interview.

Silicon Valley to Sitare Foundation

In America, Amit found himself part of a vibrant Indian diaspora, especially in Silicon Valley, where Indian talent has long been a driving force behind some of the world’s biggest tech innovations. Known to be a hub that has turned thousands of Indian engineers, scientists, and entrepreneurs into leaders in their fields, fuelled by hard work and a desire to make a difference which is rooted in India’s strong respect for education. Amit thrived in this environment, and after earning his Ph.D, he found a seat at Google, where he spent 15 years helping shape one of the world’s most influential tech firms and building a life in the Silicon Valley.

Shilpa and Dr Amit Singhal

By every standard, he was a success story but for Amit, the measure of true success came with the responsibility to pay it forward. So he and his wife Shilpa — another high-achiever with a master’s in Physics from Binghamton and Computer Science from Cornell — did what many NRIs only dream of doing. They packed up their lives in the US and moved back to India with a bold vision: to transform underprivileged children’s lives through education.

“Fundamentally, education is the only sustained way out of poverty. And education is near and dear to our hearts.” – Dr Amit Singhal

In 2016, they launched the Sitare Foundation, hoping to empower kids who had the talent but none of the resources to reach for a better life. “The only useful thing that one could do with their money is to improve some lives,” said Amit, who spends an average of $2000 per student per year from his savings. Sitare, which means ‘stars’ in Hindi, was born from the idea that with the right support, these students could shine. They began with 240 applicants in the first year, of whom 50 made the cut. Today, more than 70,000 children apply to Sitare Foundation, with 100 selected each year to join the program.

The Challenges of Changing Perspectives

Yet Amit and Shilpa quickly realised that Sitare would need to be about more than academics. They were not just battling educational gaps but also social mindsets, especially around educating girls. In many communities, young girls are expected to help with household chores, assist their mothers on farms, or even marry early, making education a low priority. Sitare’s team has had to work closely with families, counseling them on the importance of allowing their daughters to pursue their studies.

With a combination of determination and compassion, Sitare has helped parents see the value in keeping their daughters in school and investing in their future.

A Future Rewritten

One student who exemplifies Sitare’s mission is Kusum Chaudhary. Growing up in a rural Jodhpur village, Kusum came from a family of farmers with little income and no land of their own. Until Sitare came into her life, higher education was an impossible dream. Thanks to Sitare’s support — covering everything from school fees to food and travel — Kusum was able to complete her schooling and is now doing her undergraduate studies in computer science at the University of Maryland. “Today, when I look back at my journey, it all looks surreal. All hopes that my parents had for me have been fulfilled,” she said. Joining Sitare Foundation, a nonprofit that helps children from low-income household’s access quality education in private schools, and find opportunities to study abroad, changed Kusum’s life forever. But she isn’t the only one to have benefitted from it, hundreds of children have been empowered through education.

“We believe in the power of education and its potential to change lives, communities, nations, and the future of our planet. Our vision behind Sitare was not limited to educating underprivileged children but also nurturing them to become world-class professionals and great humans so they could become a beacon of hope for their community and millions of other underprivileged children,” Amit said in an interview.

Building a Better Tomorrow

For Dr. Amit Singhal, Sitare Foundation is only the beginning. “Education transforms lives, not just for the individual but for everyone around them,” he says. Currently operating in five cities across Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, Sitare Foundation aims to reach 50,000 students by 2050. The foundation provides each child with a full seven-year scholarship, including residential programs, intensive college preparation, and even emotional and social support.

Sitare’s mission is not just about creating professionals but “great humans” who will bring hope and leadership to their communities. The foundation covers everything students need to thrive academically and personally, including specialized support after Class 10, where students are enrolled in residential programs that help them focus on exams and prepare for college applications. In 2022, the couple founded the Sitare University to provide high quality Computer Science education to all bright students from underprivileged backgrounds free of cost.

Coming Home by Changing Lives

For Amit, this journey has come full circle. His success in Silicon Valley may have offered him financial security, but it was education that showed him his true calling. In helping underprivileged children break free from the limitations of poverty, he is fulfilling a promise that has been passed down in his family for generations.

Sitare Foundation is not only transforming individual lives but is also reshaping the aspirations of entire communities, one student at a time.

His work is a homecoming—a journey back to his roots, shaped by the values of hard work and education. Through Sitare Foundation, Amit and Shilpa are building bridges for future generations to cross, creating a legacy that is just as enduring as the family tradition that once guided him.

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