In an era where entrepreneurship often equates to profit margins and bottom lines, Prof. Anandajit Goswami stands as a living counter-narrative. His entrepreneurial journey isn’t woven from the threads of traditional business, but from the raw fabric of empathy, vision, and transformative action. As the founder of TOHRI Foundation, Prof. Goswami has redefined what it means to lead with purpose—impacting society in the most meaningful and direct ways possible.
The Man Behind the Mission
Prof. Anandajit Goswami is not merely an academic, author, or musician. He is a movement. A movement forged in the crucible of personal struggle and shaped by an unwavering drive to be an agent of change. Born and raised in a refugee colony, with no shelter and the most minimal of living standards, Anandajit did not inherit opportunity—he carved it out of adversity. With no financial capital to lean on, he relied solely on perseverance, imagination, and his indomitable will to rise. This very foundation of struggle became the bedrock of his philosophy: to solve the world’s hardest problems by leaning into possibility, not privilege.
An academician with over 12 years of experience, he holds a Ph.D. in Energy Policy from TERI School of Advanced Studies and a Master’s in International Trade and Economics from JNU. His expertise has shaped global and national policies, having collaborated with entities such as the United Nations, World Bank, UNCTAD, Asian Development Bank, and Indian ministries. From leading TERI-Africa initiatives in Addis Ababa to advising state governments on sustainable development, Prof. Goswami’s impact transcends borders.
But academia alone could not quench his thirst to impact lives on a personal, tangible level. That’s where the TOHRI Foundation was born.
A Mission with Heart: TOHRI Foundation
Founded in June 2021, TOHRI Foundation isn’t just another NGO—it is a living, breathing testament to the idea that compassion backed by action can create systemic change. The foundation has swiftly grown into one of the 20 best startups of 2023, celebrated for its work across multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): particularly 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 12, 16, and 17.
Headquartered in Greater Faridabad, Haryana, TOHRI Foundation addresses some of the most pressing societal problems: lack of access to food, shelter, healthcare, and education; child abuse and violence; mental health crises; and reskilling gaps for the underprivileged. Its approach is simple yet profound: direct connection with the people, addressing real needs in real time.
Whether it’s setting up community health camps, creating food distribution networks, initiating educational programs, or collaborating with artists and writers to drive climate awareness, TOHRI Foundation’s work is holistic. Its USP lies in this very holistic and empathetic engagement—partnering, caring, listening, and responding.
A Renaissance Man: Music, Literature, and More
Prof. Goswami is not confined to the world of research and policy. He is a musician, poet, author, and a cultural catalyst. His band “Justajoo” has made waves with three successful releases on Spotify, their title track “Fanaa” topping independent charts and infusing sustainability with soul.
His literary acumen is equally trailblazing. Author of 13 fiction books and numerous academic publications, his writing spans genres, languages, and causes. “Lucy Ebong Shei Trainti” is India’s first Bengali sci-fi series on sustainability, while his latest release, “A Green Day” (published by Hachette India, 2024), is a climate action manifesto already ranking as #1 in the “Climate and Environment” category.
These creative endeavors are not sidelines—they are integral to his mission. Be it through theater, like “Yuhi Sath Sath Chalte” (collaboration with National School of Drama and Jashn-E-Adab), or his music for Extinction Rebellion and Fridays for Future, his art becomes activism.
Recognitions & Accolades
It’s no surprise that his multi-pronged impact has garnered acclaim:
- Four-time award winner for best fiction writer
- Two-time awardee for social empowerment through TOHRI Foundation
- Honored by the National Human Rights Council, CRY, WWF India, and WWF Uganda for contributions to human, child, and animal rights
- Chosen as a brand ambassador by NADA Foundation for anti-tobacco and anti-drug campaigns in campuses
- Recognized by Johns Hopkins University for work on tobacco taxation and development
Prof. Anandajit Goswami Receiving Award at Blindwink India Business Awards 2025 by Actress Bipasha Basu
Breaking Barriers: The Entrepreneurial Ethos
To Prof. Goswami, entrepreneurship is not about glamour—it’s about grit. “Struggles are not to be glorified, they are to be understood, solved, and transcended,” he says. His life has been a series of learning curves: from financial insecurity to navigating bureaucratic resistance, every challenge has only sharpened his edge.
What sets him apart? Perhaps it’s the “hunger to learn something new every day”, or the ability to extract possibility from the impossible. It could also be his innate skill to build cohesive teams united by a shared purpose. Or maybe it’s his refusal to let dreams sleep.
“Don’t sleep and don’t allow your dreams to sleep,” he advises aspiring entrepreneurs—a powerful mantra from someone who turned sheer resolve into a revolutionary foundation.
The Road Ahead
The TOHRI Foundation is on an upward trajectory. With new partnerships, growing outreach, and an expanding footprint in rural and urban communities, its future looks bright—and more importantly, impactful.
But the journey doesn’t stop here. Prof. Goswami’s vision includes:
- Scaling TOHRI to pan-India operations
- Creating global collaborative platforms for sustainability
- Developing climate literature for young readers
- Building music-theater productions around environmental awareness
- Launching a national program for reskilling underprivileged youth
Each goal is anchored in his core belief: true change comes from empathy in action.
A Life Lived in Purpose
In a world often distracted by noise, Prof. Anandajit Goswami chooses to listen—to the silences of the oppressed, to the cries of children without shelter, to the pain of a planet under siege. And then, he responds—with compassion, action, and creativity.
His story is not just one of professional success—it’s a blueprint for purpose-driven living. A tale of how one man, rooted in struggle, grew into a force of transformation for thousands. Of how a foundation born in 2021 is already reshaping narratives around care, sustainability, and social responsibility.
Through TOHRI Foundation, his books, music, and public engagements, Prof. Goswami reminds us of the power of resilience, and the beauty of doing good, loudly and unrelentingly.
