An idea took shape in the slums of Mumbai in the early nineties and went on to become a peoples' movement to address the problem of providing quality education for all of India's children. This piece profiles Dr. Madhav Chavan, the man who provided the dynamic vision for and creative leadership of that mission/movement. Dr. Chavan combined the wisdom of an ancient Chinese philosopher and lessons from the fast-food restaurant model to develop innovations in education that are enabling children and youth to learn. His unwavering focus on the human values behind the big numbers, as well as his celebration of the joy and wonder at the heart of all learning, are a large part of the educational story that is unfolding in faraway villages in India and providing a trigger for social change. This article is an attempt to present his contributions to education innovation in India.