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

When I passed out of LSR, I didn’t have any intention to get in education as we never think of becoming a teacher. I was in the airline industry, I got married and had kids and at that time I got attracted towards the teaching profession. Once I got into it, it was like a quicksand, I just got deeper and deeper and I was just loving it. I realised that it is the most satisfying job in the world. 

I am an educator with a passion and have been in this line for 26 years but it’s my passion and e emotional bonding with children which has brought me where I am. I am trying to make a difference.'I love to teach, I love to see minds opening up, to participate in the excitement of learning and to help people progress from frustration to accomplishment'…
Good teaching is as much about passion as it is about reason. It's about not only motivating students to learn, but also teaching them how to learn, and doing so in a manner that is relevant, meaningful, and memorable.

My Philosophy in brief is , ‘Often times, in our search for the perfect moment of absolute learning, we fail to see the beauty of the stumbling blocks, the little steps that falter and fall backwards and the unsure moments of ‘I can’t do it’. Education has sadly become a race towards perfection and the highest possible grades. It is as much about the moral grain of the being, the accountability and responsibility towards oneself and towards the society, about being the liberal citizen of the world and moving with the times as it is about grades. I would like to see all my students as achievers and if they imbibe knowledge rather than acquire it, spare a thought for the have nots in their journey towards success, think that peace, harmony, giving back to society and care for the Mother Earth are not duties delegated to some specialists but to them, I will feel that I have been successful in playing my part in educating them in the real sense of the term’.

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?

I always encouraged children and my own kids are into creative fields. In a recent conference, I had queried that why only academically performing children are highlighted? Each child possesses some talent. One may be good at signing or dancing or sports. We must highlight each and every child, take out the best in him/her and let them work towards it, because this is what will make them realise what to do later in life. Education is not only about passing exams; it is more about preparing a child to learn to accept failures and stand on his/her own feet and be a happy individual. It is very much important for an institute to recognise each and every child’s talent and guide them. If you encourage them, they will surely perform well in other aspects since everything is connected some or the other way. It is a major responsibility of a school to help the children excel. My Philosophy in brief is , ‘Often times, in our search for the perfect moment of absolute learning, we fail to see the beauty of the stumbling blocks, the little steps that falter and fall backwards and the unsure moments of ‘I can’t do it’. Education has sadly become a race towards perfection and the highest possible grades. It is as much about the moral grain of the being, the accountability and responsibility towards oneself and towards the society, about being the liberal citizen of the world and moving with the times as it is about grades. I would like to see all my students as achievers and if they imbibe knowledge rather than acquire it, spare a thought for the have nots in their journey towards success, think that peace, harmony, giving back to society and care for the Mother Earth are not duties delegated to some specialists but to them, I will feel that I have been successful in playing my part in educating them in the real sense of the term’.

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

It is very important for an institute to ensure how children are being connected to a community. Are we teaching them the values? Because there is a huge desire for that. The curriculum must be planned in such a way that it should relate to the community. We have taken up some initiatives where we provide music lessons to the underprivileged children belonging to the slums. To create an environment which brings change in the society is one thing which I am longing for.

Please read which will tell you of the work I have done or want to continue doing 

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?

It’s all about making parents understand. It is not that we don’t want children to excel in academics, but at the same time we must be able to nurture them, striking a balance between academics and cocurricular activities.

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

Education all over the world needs to be integrated and not divided in such a form that the talents should be a part of the entire planning in the curriculum of schools.

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

I started my career as a music teacher. (laughs) I think if you don’t like music then how would you survive in the world? Because music makes you stress-free, comfortable, it energizes you and it is like meditation. It is a very important part of my life.

Any other thoughts you may want to share.

I like to share about how amazing the new National Education Policy has come out! It very progressive, I hope and pray it will be implemented in its actual form in the future.