Manzil Mystics was founded by a group of young musicians who grew up in low-income families in Delhi and found their voice through Manzil; a learning community and nonprofit started by an IIM Ahmedabad graduate, Ravi Gulati. The nurturing and creative environment of Manzil gave them not just music, but confidence, purpose, and a happy, safe space to grow. Five of these youth (the co-founders of Manzil Mystics) went on to earn 100% scholarships to study in the USA. On returning, they realized that over 4.4 million children in Delhi-and millions more across India—lack the same opportunities to learn and express themselves through music.
They also discovered a deeper gap: while India has a centuries-old musical heritage, there was no structured, inclusive initiative to make music education accessible and meaningful for every child. To change this, they founded Manzil Mystics; a nonprofit dedicated to using the power of music to educate, empower, and create livelihoods.
Our vision is simple yet powerful: every child deserves at least one hour of happy and safe space each week through music to learn, express, and heal.
Our mission is to enable access to quality music education for 1 million children by 2027 through our Learning Through Music (LTM) model, which combines education, livelihood, and community-building. We aim to nurture a generation of creative, empathetic, and confident children—while helping young musicians from low-income backgrounds earn dignified livelihoods as music facilitators.
Core Programs:
- Learning Through Music:
A Curriculum implemented in government and low-income schools, this curriculum integrates music with academics and life skills, helping children develop focus, empathy, and confidence while learning subjects like language, math, and social-emotional awareness through songs.
- Learning Through Music Fellowship:
An 18-month livelihood and leadership program for young musicians from underserved communities. Fellows are trained, mentored, and placed in schools to teach music while earning a stipend transforming both their own lives and those of thousands of children.
- The Music Bus:
India’s first mobile music school, the Bus brings music to communities with little or no access. It creates joyful, safe learning spaces in schools and neighborhoods, reaching thousands of children and families each year.
Focus Areas:
Education: Building joyful and inclusive classrooms through music.
Livelihood: Empowering young musicians to become educators and community leaders.
Community Building: Fostering harmony, social change, and emotional wellbeing through music gatherings, festivals, and performances.
Why It Matters: In a country of over 52 million children under 18 children struggle with anxiety, stress, and lack of creative outlets, Manzil Mystics uses music as a pathway to mental wellness, self-expression, and social change. Music helps children learn better, feel safer, and believe in themselves. It bridges divides of gender, class, and faith—making it a universal language of hope and belonging.
Our Future:
By 2027, we aim to reach 1 million children and train 1,000 community musicians across India, creating a movement that redefines learning—not just as academics, but as joyful exploration through music.
We dream of a world where every child has access to music—not as a luxury, but as a right.
Fundraisers
Raise the Raga: Bringing Music Education to 10,000 Children
- Raised
- $200
- Goal
- $120,000
Donors
Ward MAILLIARD To the fundraiser: Raise the Raga: Bringing Music Education to 10,000 Children2Manzil Mystics humanize the learning process by creating a safe atmosphere of play and learning through music.