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

I really follow this quote by Bernard Shaw – “The sole hope of human salvation lies in teaching.” Education is the key to any success. Teaching fascinated me since my childhood. There is so much love, respect and regard you get from children and parents I love being around them. I am in this field since last 31 years trying to shape the future generation of our country. It doesn’t matter how small a school is; what matters is how I can bring a change in the new generation’s life, they are more in to virtual world away from the realistic, they are busy in internet friends than being with their family members, it is very important to inculcate the moral values and ethics in them. We are into the world of cut throat competition where every school is thinking of more and more strength of their school.  As a principal, shaping children is very important .Unless and until they’re not being taught all values like kindness, generosity, empathy. Sharing, loving, caring and sympathy; the education is of no use. Only bookish knowledge is not enough, co curricular activities are equally important. Shaping them into a good human being is the need of the hour,

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?

Definitely co curricular activities are very important to shape children’s overall personality, School include co curricular activities with academic curricular so that students develop skills beyond subject knowledge. It helps them a lot. Every activity in school life plays a significant role in development of student’s life. Children should learn beyond academic knowledge. Co curricular activities also help improvise teaching techniques in school, enhancing children’s confidence. They will learn to face a huge audience. Through co curricular activities children learn public speaking, singing, dancing, storytelling etc, they get a platform to showcase their talents. Music is one the most important aspect of one’s development, in a recent research by North Western University, it is clearly seen that the students who listen or practice music are more active and brighter than the ones who not at all get involved in it. It relief stress and helps in brain development .It is found that students engaged in music lessons had more improvement in IQ subtest, index scores and a standardized measure of academic achievements  Various elements of music such as time signatures, song writing, etc are an excellent way to incorporate fractions and lyric analysis It majorly helps in releasing stress and music also develops discipline in students.

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

I give equal importance to all the activities related to MADS. Sports really helps develop students accept failures, discipline and many other qualities. We have different allotted periods for MADS.

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?

I really disagree with parents who look down upon the co-curricular activities. Like in reality shows it is clearly seen how parents are so much supportive to uplift their children. Even in our institution, if there is a dance or a fancy dress competition, parents give us full support. Of course, parents want their wards to be good in academics but at the same time they also want their children to excel in MADS.

In our education system, first priority is always given to the completion of academics. I want MADS to be chosen as a stream like how commerce, science and arts are given. Although there are universities for Music, Dance, etc. but they are rare. I see most of the students running after AIEEE and IT sectors, but not many talking about co-curricular fields and their benefits.

I really disagree with parents who look down upon the co-curricular activities. Like in reality shows it is clearly seen how parents are so much supportive to uplift their children. Even in our institution, if there is a dance or a fancy dress competition, parents give us full support. Of course, parents want their wards to be good in academics but at the same time they also want their children to excel in MADS.

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

In my previous school, there were many branches of MADS. Students used to get opportunities at national level. Now I work for underprivileged students, so they hardly get opportunities to participate in such activities in bigger platforms.

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

I am very much interested in listening music and also in dancing. I like to see my children dancing during annual functions.

Any other thoughts you may want to share.

I would suggest your organisation to go in different schools and organise workshops and make parents aware of the importance of cocurricular activities. Since you all are into MADS so I insist your head of the organisation to reach out to various schools and show how an expertise in MADS can change children’s lives.