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

I started teaching children when I was doing my graduation and I realized I can connect with them really well. I enjoyed their company and they did mine. We shared an awesome chemistry. That’s how I decided that I should take up education as my career. It’s my passion and love working with children.

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 definitely feel that educational institutions can play an extremely significant role in the overall development of students. We at Cygnus World School are already doing so and I can proudly say that we have succeeded to a great extent in developing the 21st century skills in our children through the variety of activities we organized at school. 

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

We organize lots of interesting activities such as – interhouse and interschool sports tournaments, class presentations showcasing singing, dancing, speaking and art skills of children. Special assemblies on occasions like World Population Day, Earth Day, etc.,Organizing competitions such as fun with colours, interviewing famous personalities of the city, science song making competition, innovations week etc.

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?

We keep talking to our parents, explaining to them that skills are what we need to focus on because these are transferable and any profession you choose these can be used to achieve success. We are preparing children for jobs which we don’t even know would exist in this fast-changing world or not. When they would be ready for the jobs, an overall developed personality with varied skills will be able to fit them into any kind of new avenues that come up with the advancements of Science and Technology.

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

Change in perspective that I would like to suggest is that, something that you will have a passion for and pursue with dedication, you will definitely be successful in, rather than being a dissatisfied person throughout your life. There are many individuals who have excelled even in co-curricular fields because of their interest which was pursed whole heartedly.

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

Many of our students have won Karate medals in National and International Competitions, some have achieved various positions at National Level in Chess as well. One of our major achievements at the National Level is the Silver Beaver Award for the movie “NINE”, scripted, shot and edited by our students. Our students also won the best presentation award for the National Championship organized by Creya in collaboration with INTEL in 2018, held at Hyderabad.

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

I am fond of listening to Hindi Filmy songs from 1950’s – 1980’s. I am a trained Katha dancer. I love Art and Play indoor games with my child. My daughter is very fond of Badminton, so I play the same with her as a stress buster. We paint together and listen to songs whenever time permits.

Any other thoughts you may want to share.

As far as a school is concerned, I feel it is a miniature society where knowledge imparting and evaluating should not be the only objective. Extensive amount of knowledge is available on the internet and everyone has access to the same. School should rather focus on developing the skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, creativity, empathy, inter and intra-personal skills, communication skills, high level of confidence and self-esteem among children so that they become worthwhile citizens of our society. Ample amount of activities can be planned to help develop these skills and we are practically doing so at our school. So yes, I would say it’s definitely possible, but one should be ready to take it up with an open-minded approach.