New Delhi: Avadh Ojha has changed many addresses over the past two decades. From Allahabad’s small coaching institutes to Delhi’s Vajiram, from online coaching, to his own YouTube channel. Now the celebrity teacher has a new pin code: Aam Aadmi Party. This could signal a new retirement plan for other celebrity UPSC teachers such as Vikas Divyakirti, Khan Sir, and Alakh Pandey whose popularity among India’s youth transcends classroom boundaries.
Ojha, 40, joined the party on Monday in the presence of former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and senior party leader Manish Sisodia. He was a UPSC aspirant himself, before transforming into a teacher, motivational speaker, and now politician.
“Avadh Ojha might be the first coaching institute teacher to formally join a party but he is not the first one to be associated with any political party. Behind the curtain, many popular teachers are associated with political parties. If he gets successful here, then definitely we will see more teachers in politics,” said a UPSC teacher at a coaching centre in Karol Bagh on condition of anonymity.
Ojha is known for his viral videos and unique use of Hindi slogans. He often borrows the language of memes, movies, politics—all of which makes him popular among students. His move to AAP has surprised many because of his past criticism of Kejriwal. He had accused Kejriwal of initially positioning himself as an anti-corruption crusader but later indulging in graft.
“Education is a medium which is the soul of the family, society, and the nation. Whatever great countries have become in the world, education has contributed to their background in some way or the other. After coming into politics, my biggest aim is to develop education,” said Ojha while joining the AAP on Monday.
The UPSC coaching industry has built itself into a formidable powerhouse in the last 20 years. It’s a step up from the time campus politics was a petri dish of talent for Indian politics. Movie stars have moved seamlessly from the box office to the booth. Of late, social media influencers are the latest cross-overs. Now Ojha’s entry into AAP could open many celebrity edtech teachers too who turn classroom cache into political capital.
Behind the curtain, many popular teachers are associated with political parties. If he gets successful here, then definitely we will see more teachers in politics.
UPSC teacher at a coaching centre in Karol Bagh
“There is no doubt that if you listen to him (Ojha), you will engage but smart people can clearly see the difference. A student does not come to your classes to know what kind of gunda (goon) you are. Ojha shares sharp opinions about Modi. Once, he compared the PM to Mohammad Ghori. Of course, students find it very daring and entertaining but it lowers the value of him as a teacher. Now, he is in the right profession and can say all those things,” said Mohit Singh, who attended Ojha’s history class in 2023.
Avadh Ojha has called the Modi government the “Modi dynasty” and compared him to Mohammad Ghori. Many Modi supporters had targeted Ojha after this comment.
“This is an individual choice. It’s not like every popular teacher will join politics. It’s similar to any other well-known person entering politics, like Kangana Ranaut or other social media influencers. It has nothing to do with being a teacher,” said a senior teacher from one of the top coaching institutes in Karol Bagh on the condition of anonymity.
While Ojha may have bashed Kejriwal in the past, experts said AAP and the UPSC teacher do have some core value alignment.
“For someone like Avadh Ojha, joining the Aam Aadmi Party aligns with his professional narrative of education and empowerment, as AAP’s focus on reaching out to the common man resonates well with his background,” said political analyst Hilal Ahmed.
On Monday, as the news of Ojha joining the AAP flashed on TV screens, many WhatsApp groups of coaching institutes started buzzing with activity. While some laughed, many appreciated his move.
After coming into politics, my biggest aim is to develop education.
Avadh Ojha
“I’ve seen a lot of criticism directed at him after his political debut, but this is not new. In the past, professors and student leaders have joined active politics. Now, with the coaching industry becoming so large, people from here are also moving into politics. If they believe they can contribute something better to education, they should pursue it,” said Amit Kilhor, UPSC teacher at StudyIQ.
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Educator flirting politics
Avadh Ojha had expressed his wish to enter politics and contest elections multiple times in the past. In an interview with a news channel in August 2024, Ojha revealed that he wanted to contest the last Lok Sabha elections on a BJP ticket. He had requested the Prayagraj seat but things didn’t materialise in his favour. Instead, the party offered him a ticket from Kaiserganj, and Ojha declined.
“I asked for a ticket from both BJP and Congress and was even offered one by BSP. Behenji offered me the Phulpur ticket. I sought tickets from both BJP and Congress because my situation was like Krishna in the Mahabharata,” Ojha had said in an interview with The Lallantop, calling himself a maukaterian—an opportunist.
“Narendra Modi used to be a good leader but now Rahul Gandhi is,” Ojha had remarked earlier this year after the Lok Sabha results, comparing Rahul Gandhi’s political resurgence to clearing the UPSC Preliminary Exam with 99 marks.
The educator has been ready to align with any party willing to meet his demands. “This is not the Ram Yug anymore; it’s Krishna’s time, and I can fight from anywhere,” he had declared.
Recalling his ticket negotiations, Ojha recently said, “BJP offered me a ticket from Kaiserganj but my mother said no, so I refused.”
In the same interview, he expressed his intention to contest from the Kishanganj Assembly constituency and announced plans to form his own party by 2028.
“I will make my own party and won’t ask anyone,” he asserted.
I’ve seen a lot of criticism directed at him after his political debut, but this is not new. In the past, professors and student leaders have joined active politics.
Amit Kilhor, UPSC teacher at StudyIQ
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‘Teacher-cum-influencer’
Born on 3 July 1984 in Gonda, Uttar Pradesh, Avadh Ojha has frequently shared his life story across various platforms. And in the process built his brand. His account of how his father, a postmaster, sold land to support his UPSC preparation is well-known in the UPSC circles.
After Ojha failed to clear the UPSC Mains, he started teaching history at a coaching institute to support himself. He has a BA (hons) History, MA Hindi Literature, LLB, MPhil, and PhD in Hindi Literature.
In an interview some time ago, Ojha said, “Where I come from, you either have to become an IAS officer or a criminal.” The clip became popular and while many people praised Ojha for being bold and intelligent, some criticised him for being so full of himself.
“In his classes, online lectures and even in some interviews he used to portray himself as a dabang and glorify it in front of people. Once in his class, he said ‘Kisi ke upar gun lagana hai to laga do (put a gun on someone’s head if you deem fit) ’, no wonder he has joined politics. Two kinds of people join politics — educated and hawabaz types—those who create a buzz. And he fulfils both criteria,” said Abhishek Yadav, a UPSC aspirant.
Ojha has worked with popular coaching institute Vajiram IAS. It’s here that his lectures, recorded by the students and posted on social media, went viral and made him popular. In his videos, Ojha wore a cap or gamchha to engage with the students.
In 2020, Ojha opened a YouTube channel where he uploaded teaching videos. He wore his rural identity on his sleeves with confidence. That became a hit with students. The channel has over nine lakh subscribers. He often uses terms such as “badke chacha”, “guru”, “kaahe”, “gajab”, among others.
And Ojha is owning his brand and its popularity. He has a website after his name Avadhojha.com. And the ‘About us’ section on the site starts with a question — ‘Who hasn’t heard about Avadh Ojha Sir?’
According to the website, the educator teaches modern Indian history for the General Studies papers of the UPSC Civil Services Prelims and Mains.
In his classes, online lectures and even in some interviews he used to portray himself as a dabang and glorify it in front of people…no wonder he has joined politics.
Abhishek Yadav, a UPSC aspirant
A UPSC teacher ThePrint spoke to said Ojha wanted to have power and he had expressed his wish to join politics multiple times. However, the teacher raised questions about Ojha’s ability as an educator.
“I wouldn’t exactly call him a teacher; he’s more of a social media influencer. After Covid, his videos went viral, largely due to his unique speaking style and knack for delivering ‘gyan.’ But teaching? Not really,” said Deepanshu Singh, a former Unacademy educator.
But the teacher quoted above hoped Ojha makes some impact in politics.
“Now that a political party has given him a platform, I just hope he moves beyond superficial talk and makes a real impact. So far, there’s little to show for it. If he wants to be a leader, he needs to start contributing meaningfully on the ground—at least enough to earn a ticket,” he said.
‘They don’t take him seriously’
Every year, lakhs of students apply for the UPSC exams, with most of them enrolling in coaching classes for their preparation. Among these aspirants, Avadh Ojha is a well-known name. His stories from his time at Vajiram IAS Institute are widely shared, and many students remember them fondly. For some, talking about him provided a welcome relief from the rigorous UPSC preparation schedule.
“We never took Avadh Ojha seriously. Serious candidates only discussed him for entertainment, as he often made negative remarks about other teachers and created drama in his classes. Later, he joined an online platform where his videos went viral, and his popularity skyrocketed,” said Praveen Pandey, a UPSC aspirant who used to live in Old Rajinder Nagar.
There is a clear divide among the students who attended his classes. “Serious aspirants never attended his classes. It was mainly the new students, fresh out of college, who enjoyed his lectures,” added Pandey.
Ojha’s influence extended beyond UPSC aspirants; many college students also followed him for his motivational talks and his bindass (carefree) style of delivery. “Ninety per cent of people think studying is the same as preparing for UPSC, but studying is different, and preparing for UPSC is different,” said Ojha in one of his motivational speeches.
I wouldn’t exactly call him a teacher; he’s more of a social media influencer.
Deepanshu Singh, a former Unacademy educator
In another instance, donning a red scarf around his neck, he spoke about boys chasing girls and vice versa.
“Life and society’s realities, along with life experiences, speak volumes. I’ve never considered anyone an ideal, but ever since I started listening to Sir, he’s become my first and only ideal,” read a YouTube comment.
His students said Ojha’s USP is linking the past and present to teach history.
“He teaches in a very engaging way and explains very well. For Hindi background students, it is really helpful. We get to learn a lot apart from the syllabus. He motivates us to do something in life,” said Mayank Mishra who has taken Ojha’s classes.
In his speeches and classes, Ojha often draws on a wide array of references, including Bollywood movies, politics, and Hindu mythology. Sometimes he likens himself to Lord Krishna, and at other times he emphasises that struggle is an integral part of life.
“You can’t escape struggle. The Bollywood movie Dangal has a beautiful song that talks about struggle: Maa ke pet se marghat tak hai teri kahani, pag pag pyare dangal dangal (From the mother’s womb to the grave, life is a constant struggle). Even PM Modi’s life is full of struggle,” said Ojha in one of his sessions.
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Modi first, Kejriwal now
Avadh Ojha has criticised both Modi and Kejriwal multiple times in his videos. He has commented on Modi’s way of running the country and Kejriwal’s decision to open alcohol shops across Delhi.
In another viral video, part of his lecture on history, Ojha suggested that Modi dissolve the Constitution and establish a ‘Modi dynasty,’ drawing parallels between Modi and historical figures like Mohammad Ghori, who like Modi didn’t have an heir. He stated that it was time for a chapter on the ‘Modi dynasty’ in educational curricula, especially since the Mughal dynasty had been removed from the syllabus.
He is heard saying, “The government is running very well. I say what is Modi ji waiting for? The Constitution should be dissolved.”
“Now it is time for him to wear the crown, Modi Dynasty. The Mughal Dynasty chapter has ended so we will read some other dynasties. The new Parliament will become a palace. It is a good Parliament, everyone is abusing each other.”
Ojha has also criticised Kejriwal’s governance in multiple videos. In one such video, the educator-turned-politician attacked the AAP convener’s pro-poor image and accused him of corruption.
“The career of every great man begins as the messiah of the poor. Arvind Kejriwal, with his shirt turned out, wearing slippers, and a muffler, is saying that there is a lot of corruption in India and I will uproot corruption. Then he started shouting that Modi ji sells liquor illegally in Gujarat. He came to know that most of the money comes from liquor and he had to contest the Punjab elections too, so he sold liquor in Delhi.”
In another video, Ojha said, “Arvind Kejriwal brought everyone together on India Against Corruption in the year 2008. He made Anna Hazare stand, Kiran Bedi stand, Kumar Vishwas stand, made everyone stand and then he himself stood in the middle and took away the light of everyone.”
We never took Avadh Ojha seriously. Serious candidates only discussed him for entertainment, as he often made negative remarks about other teachers and created drama in his classes.
Praveen Pandey, a UPSC aspirant
However, some clips doing the rounds now show Ojha praising Kejriwal and the AAP. “When you become an ideal for society, ideal means your such achievement which the society accepts, like Arvind Kejriwal. First attempt IIT, first attempt IRS, first attempt CM.”
(Edited by Anurag Chaubey)