When and why did you decide to take up education as your career?

Education runs in my veins, my mother has been a teacher since I have known her. I never intended to be in this industry as hospitality was my preferred sector, but somehow education found me. I am grateful for all the events that have led me to touch young lives through this industry. Education exists in every movement of our lives; working in this industry brings the best out of you.

As an educationalist, you are touching many human lives directly. Do you think educational institutions can play a significant role in overall development of students by encouraging them to take up co-curricular interests like Music, Art, Dance or Sports?

Any educational institution is incomplete if it imparts only academic knowledge. It is imperative for any educational institution to undertake holistic development of the students. NMS ensure equal importance to academic, co-curricular, sports and spiritual activities.
This helps students to move forward with their interest as it sets an early learning platform and hobby creation. This not only enables students in their overall development but also improves their cognation, interaction, behaviour and ensures their physical and mental well-being.

What are some of the most important initiatives related to co-curricular that you have taken in the institutions you have served?

- Introduction of holistic 360-degree report cards.
- Organising occasion specific activities that involve students, their parents and grand-parents.
- Ensuring active participation from all our students.
- Getting talented teachers and coaches to help students discover their potential.

In the days when most people measure success only by academic score, how would you convey to the parents of your students that co-curricular education is not something to be looked down upon?

Success is your ability to be ethical and happy. When a student derives happiness by any means be it academics, music, art, singing, dancing, sports or dramatics we consider him/her successful. The nation needs doctors, engineers, scientists but it also requires athletes, movie-stars, chefs and entrepreneurs alike.

In today’s society parents are equally proud when their children display excellence in any dimension. It’s the environment of an educational institution that recognises and nurtures the students to achieve greatness. We conduct regular PTM’s to make our parents understand the different interests if their kids and how they can move ahead with them as their career. We provide different platforms for NMS kids to showcase their talents and their rewards & awards are best answers to parents’ questions.

If you were to suggest one major change in perspective of co-curricular education, what would that be?

If a student displays aptitude, interest and potential for any dimension then post primary education he/she should be given an opportunity to explore it in the best possible manner along with academics.

Please let us know about some key achievements of your institution and/or your student(s) in MADS at national/international level?

We are just 2.5 years old institution and running classes till grade 7 this year. We are on our way to put our marks on different platforms. Our students do not leave any opportunity to participate in events like district sports competition (youngest kids to participate), Fort Fair (Best dance performance by our little girls of grade 2-4), cultural pre-independence evening (Band performance by our students), etc.

What are your personal interests in Music, Art, Dance or Sports and how do you continue to pursue them?

Dance-dance till you are dead
Being at this position it is bit difficult for me to have it on regular basis but still I do not miss any opportunity to pursue my passion of dancing. I perform on different functions organised at my workplaces, house parties, events etc. except my daily practise at home.

Any other thoughts you may want to share.

We need sharp focus and collaborative efforts towards transforming and nurturing the shift towards the Co-curricular activities along with academics.

The world is connected, but we need to switch-on the light.