How a 17-year-old from Hyderabad is teaching coding to government school children through cooking

A 17-year-old student from Hyderabad, Aaryaman Maheshwari, is transforming computer education for government school children by teaching coding through cooking metaphors. His initiative, SmartBharat, uses AI to deliver lessons in local Indian languages, making learning accessible and engaging for students across Telangana.

Launched in December 2023, SmartBharat has already reached 21 government schools in collaboration with NGOs and the Telangana Education Department. The program teaches Python programming using relatable everyday examples like cooking, helping students understand abstract concepts in a practical and fun way.

Bridging the digital divide
India has over 1 million government schools serving 140 million children, yet only 35.8% have functional computer labs. Many schools struggle to hire trained computer teachers, especially in rural areas, and conventional English-based tutorials are often hard for students to follow. SmartBharat provides a cost-effective and scalable solution by combining gamified lessons, AI-translated local-language videos, interactive quizzes, coding practicals, and peer collaboration.


The curriculum incorporates the four major learning styles—step, create, research, and talk—and is designed with pattern breaks to maintain attention. A “buddy system” encourages students to support one another, while a gamified dashboard tracks performance and motivates learning. Teachers report better classroom participation, curiosity, and enthusiasm for technology.

Aaryaman began coding at seven and founded BuilderGroop, a 6,000-member international community for young entrepreneurs. “Technology shouldn’t be the privilege of a few; it should be the right of every child,” he says. By teaching coding in the context of daily life, SmartBharat is helping children believe they can be creators of the digital world.