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

I never thought of becoming an educationist in my early phase of life. After completing my masters, I got the opportunity to deliver a few practical lessons in the University after which I introspected and explored my strength of connecting with the students. I started loving this profession as I got the chance to share my knowledge with others and to change hundreds of lives by setting an example, soon after I joined the school as a Science Teacher where my passion of teaching got completely flourished.

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?

Yes, I firmly believe that School is the best place for the overall holistic development of the children. Under the guidance of the expertise the children take the training whether it is Academics or Co-curricular. Schools can provide the best suitable environment and encouragement by including various co-curricular activities where children got the chance to compete with other intelligent and talented students which makes them responsible, confident, competent and critical thinker. They also gain the importance of team work and collaboration while doing the group performances.
Students working in groups/teams irrespective of different background develop holistically in this fast-growing competitive world.

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

I personally always believe that Co-curricular activities play an equivalent role as Academics in any Educational Institutions because these activities gives students the chance to showcase their knowledge, critical thinking, innovation and talent. Having said that I always promoted these activities in the schools. A few of enlisted activities which I introduced in the schools where I served are: 
•    Debates, Declamations, Public speaking, quizzes
•    Article Writing and script Writing in addition to acting
•    Competitions in Music, Dance and Art
•    Promoted the School Band/Instrumental Band
•    Interschool competitions
•    Interschool Literary Festival at a large scale
•    Investiture Ceremony
•    ISA British council
•    Round Square conferences

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 would like to convey the importance by conducting Orientations, coffee Mornings, Inviting Parents only to judge the events and the competitions, by conducting Mother’s workshop, Promoting these events through Social Network sites. Also, we can include the weightage of these competitions in our continuous assessments.

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

There is so much pressure on students, especially in secondary schools, to perform well in their exam and attain high grades. expecting to perform well in exams is not wrong by all means however the problem comes in when students have no life outside the four walls of the class, their world revolves around books with no room left for their development as human beings. I would like to change the perspectives of the parents when they feel that these co-curricular activities distract their students from their studies. They should change their mind and understand that both academics and extra-curricular complement each other to develop well-rounded students with more social skills than one who only concentrates on their books.

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

Students participated in various Inter School competitions and won the prizes.

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

I am personally very fond of Music, Dance and sports. My art work is not very impressive but I like colouring and I always admire my students Art work.
In my free times I use to sing on Karaoke’s and on different applications available. I also pursue different dancing styles in my free time generally on weekends.
I was a National level Badminton champion in my college days therefore I always promote sports in my life and in my schools.

Any other thoughts you may want to share.

Co-curricular activities are meant to bring social skills, intellectual skills, moral values, personality progress and character appeal in students. Therefore, every school should make these activities compulsory in their schools for the all-round development of the students.