Tirthak Saha: The Explainer Storyteller Making India’s Forgotten Stories Go Viral

From NASA projects and Forbes honors to viral Instagram reels on hidden histories, Tirthak Saha is redefining how India learns, questions, and rediscovers itself in the digital age.

By
Tanu Rawat - Content Writer

Tirthak Saha is not your typical influencer. With a background in engineering, clean energy innovation, and global research, he’s managed to transform curiosity into a storytelling revolution.

Today, with over 393,000 Instagram followers and a growing YouTube audience, Saha is one of India’s most engaging digital storytellers, someone who can make complex science, forgotten history, and social issues feel personal, visual, and deeply human.

His rise didn’t happen overnight. Born in New Delhi to a family rooted in education and public service, Saha’s early years were marked by ambition and curiosity. After leaving Delhi University due to high cut-offs, he earned scholarships to study at Manipal and later at Drexel University in the US. 

His passion for technology and innovation led him to work on NASA-funded solar panel projects and later contribute to smart grid systems at American Electric Power (AEP). He even co-founded Trolysis, a clean energy startup, and went on to collaborate with top Indian and global startups in product strategy and sustainability.

But what makes Saha truly stand out is the way he uses this technical background to tell stories. His social media content, especially his Instagram reels and YouTube documentaries, dives into “the stories everyone missed.

” Whether it’s the lost plutonium of Nanda Devi, the Coventry radiation experiments on South Asian women, or how Indian cows played a role in vaccine breakthroughs, Saha turns forgotten facts into gripping narratives. His videos are short, fast-paced, and addictive, often pulling millions of views and sparking waves of discussion across the internet.

What sets Saha apart is not just the storytelling but the rigor of research behind it. Each video blends factual depth with visual creativity.

He doesn’t just recycle existing knowledge; he investigates, contextualises, and frames stories in a way that makes viewers feel they’re uncovering secrets with him. His YouTube series “Under the Radar” and “Hidden History” have become digital libraries of untold truths.

Saha’s efforts have earned him international recognition. He was named in Forbes 30 Under 30 (Energy) for his work in sustainable technology and continues to be a prominent voice at TEDx talks and educational forums across India.

Beyond social media, his book projects, consulting work, and public speaking engagements reflect a broader mission: bridging the gap between science, society, and storytelling.

However, with fame has come scrutiny. Some online forums have accused him of exaggerating his achievements or borrowing content ideas from Western science communicators.

Investigations and credible reports, however, confirm that Saha’s Forbes honour is legitimate, earned for his energy-sector innovations in the US, not his social media success. 

His storytelling approach may resemble global creators like Johnny Harris, Vsauce or Veritasium, but his focus on Indian perspectives, field research, and local storytelling give his work a unique authenticity. No verified evidence links Saha to plagiarism or false claims; his content remains consistently sourced and verified, often backed by archival documents, news reports, and expert references.

What makes Saha’s work resonate so deeply is how he connects the dots between India’s past and its present, science and society, facts and feelings. His storytelling bridges worlds, educational yet emotional, factual yet relatable.

Whether he’s breaking down a forgotten scientific discovery or revealing the hidden injustices in history, Saha invites his viewers to not just watch but question, explore, and feel.

As India’s digital landscape continues to evolve, Tirthak Saha stands as a reminder that storytelling can be more than entertainment; it can be education, empowerment, and discovery all at once.

His journey from engineer to educator, from NASA projects to Instagram reels, captures the changing spirit of a generation that learns through curiosity and shares through creativity.

In 2025 and beyond, as creators chase trends, Saha’s mission remains clear: to uncover India’s hidden stories and make knowledge go viral.

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