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

Being a graduate in the field of Child and Human development, from SNDT College, Pune, I used to interact with children as a part of my degree. Post that I got into Media planning and later into Banking sector where I continued for 7 and half years.  For a period, when we shifted to the UK , I happened to volunteer in my child’s school which rekindled my passion for being in educational sector. And to my surprise, I was happy to quit Banking and return back to what was destined for me. Since then there was no looking back.

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?

Every child who comes to us is a gift and that gift needs to be opened at the right time. 

Music, Art, Dance and Sports are vast fields. Schools and Colleges needs to take a lead role in this as children spend their precious hours in the campus. Every child must have a platform and exposure to explore these fields. You never know, when and what clicks a child about their talent and passion.

Co-curricular activities should be encouraged and equipped for the co-curricular activities. 

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

Co-curricular activities are equally important to me as academics is. In some institutions, if the syllabus is not complete, they compensate it using the sports or PE period, but I don’t agree to this. It cannot be considered a substitution. A PE class of one hour is crucial for child’s overall mental health. 

In my institution we allow a student to select 2-3 activities which they would like to play. Also, there were clubs like Art and Craft, Story Telling, Drama, Classical Dance, etc out of which students were given an option to join any 4-5 clubs. We had a tie-up with experts for Music for whichever instrument a child wants to learn.   We also call our classes think rooms in the primary wing and we have subject rooms for students in the secondary wing.

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?

hese days, parents should be guided about the importance of the co-curricular activities for child’s overall growth. The school culture must be developed in a way that parents realize that academics and co-curricular activities are given equal importance. Drama, Music, Sports, etc. education is encouraged, and children will get a good exposure.  

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

We give the child every platform that is possible for co-curricular education. It can be dance competitions, drama event, Sports Meet, etc. I always encourage my students to grab such opportunity and showcase their talent whenever they get a chance. They learn various things in the process. 

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

Our students have been performing well wherever they get a chance to showcase their talent. They have achieved accoloades at the Swacch Bharat drawing competition, various quiz competitions, Blog writing contests, and many more.

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

Music is what I love to listen especially old melodies. Then I feel art, creativity exists everywhere not just in drawing or painting. I used to play Sports for my college teams.

Any other thoughts you may want to share.

I really appreciate and admire adults, parents, teachers who are related to children and play a significant role in their overall growth and development. They need to understand each child is born with a unique skill and should not be measured on same scale.