Hemant Goswami is an Indian social activist widely recognized for his work in public health, anti-corruption advocacy, judicial reforms, and the Right to Information (RTI) movement. Born in Delhi to an Indian Air Force officer and a teacher, he began his education in electronic sciences before shifting to management. He initially worked as a marketing professional, management consultant, and trainer.

During his college years, Hemant founded the Society for Prevention of Crime and Corruption, an NGO focused on addressing corruption. In 2001, he left his professional career to fully dedicate himself to social activism. He went on to establish the Burning Brain Society in 2001 and Citizens’ Voice in 2004.

Hemant is known for his strong and independent stance against corruption and for promoting accountability within public institutions. He has effectively used Public Interest Litigation (PIL) to expose administrative failures and influence policy reforms. His bold activism includes exposing the nexus between drug cartels and law enforcement, famously producing packets of narcotics in the High Court to demonstrate the ease of illegal drug availability.

A major part of his public health work centers on tobacco control and combating substance abuse. His sustained efforts helped transform Chandigarh into the first smoke-free city-state in the developing world. He has also exposed political funding links between tobacco companies and major political parties, challenged surrogate advertising campaigns, and initiated legal battles that led to the closure of illegal hookah and shisha bars across northern India.

Hemant is a strong advocate of the Right to Information Act. He filed nearly 300 RTI applications during the smoke-free Chandigarh campaign, helping drive accountability. He fought a prolonged legal battle to enforce transparency in the office of the Governor-Administrator of Chandigarh and successfully challenged a 500% hike in RTI application fees. His initiative, “Mission Zero Tolerance,” resulted in a landmark order directing government departments to proactively publish public documents online.

For his work, Hemant Goswami has received several national and international awards, including the Global Smoke-Free Partnership Award (2008), Young Leadership Award (2007), Young Scholars Award (2007), and the Extraordinary Activist Award for Legal Initiatives (2008).

He has served in leadership and advisory roles in numerous organizations, including the Burning Brain Society, Tobacco Free India Coalition, Tobacco Free World Foundation, and various government committees on tobacco control.