Women

To Ma’am, With Love: Kalyani Vallath, Teacher And Entrepreneur

Published

7 years ago

March 28, 2018

Nikhil Wilson

Images from: Dr Kalyani Vallath

Meet Dr Kalyani Vallath, the woman who has set herself the daunting task of changing the face of English studies in the country, and is succeeding

Text Credits: Rheanna Mathews

Dr Kalyani Vallath’s Total English Solutions (TES) has become a pillar in the monument of learning, with students from almost every state in the country having graced its halls. Twenty years of teaching English literature, and Dr Vallath is still as enthusiastic as ever. “Teaching is my passion”, she declares, “my first and last love.” She considers each new day exciting and motivating because she loves to innovate and try out new ways to make learning interesting for her students.
However, when she says innovative teaching, Dr Vallath doesn’t just confine it to the classroom. Apart from trying to make a dry subject more interesting for the students, she draws her students into other environs with practical and hands-on activities specially designed to not only increase their love for the subject, but also their employability. In fact, she states that of the total number of students who passed UGC NET (the National Eligibility Test conducted by the University Grants Commission) in English in recent years, 10-30% attended classroom or postal coaching with TES. She largely follows what she terms the “Iceberg Method” to achieve these results, which means that though she provides comprehensive notes to students, it discourages rote learning since the matter contained in said notes is incomplete, provoking further research by the students.

A successful venture

Though Dr Vallath subscribes to “the universally accepted principles that education should be learner-centric, activity-oriented and involving vocational or professional training”, her focus on creativity outside the classroom is what truly makes TES a success story. Her teaching methodology, she says, is a “curious combination of traditional educational methods with entrepreneurial ventures”. She has established a publishing company, Bodhi Tree Books and Publications, which has produced over 40 books required for the study of English Literature as expected in the country that also follow an approach that boosts reader-participation and research, encouraging students to discover information themselves. Apart from this, she has developed something called the Q Shop (or The Qriosity Shop) which produces literature themed merchandise like t-shirts, coffee mugs, greeting cards and bags. Quizzes, games, workshops and other cross-disciplinary activities imbue the students with enthusiasm and make them pursue their studies in the discipline with renewed zeal. And students play an active role in the development of these products and other services offered by TES, giving them valuable experience and training in academic writing and editing, teacher training, research consultancy, communication and product development.

A driving passion

Dr Vallath says, “It has been my driving passion to revamp advanced English studies in India”, but through her institution, it seems she has managed to do this and become a successful businesswoman too, having developed a unique model of public relations that does not involve advertising and conventional marketing. TES’ fame has spread through word-of-mouth, with students from the far reaches of the country appearing at her doorstep. Quite unsurprising, if you look at the love and admiration past students have for her. A greater acknowledgement of her success came recently when she was invited to make a presentation on “Woman as Social Edupreneur: Opportunities, Challenges” at the Oxford Education Research Symposium at Merton College in March and at the Oxford Women’s Leadership Symposium at Somerville College in August.
It seems that Dr Vallath has truly vindicated her choice not to follow the beaten path and instead seek the road that, though “fraught with risks”, would grant her the “freedom to innovate”. She created TES and has shaped it into a “finishing school” for students of English literature and she is happy that its “pioneering educational and entrepreneurial innovations have become a transforming influence for the hundreds of students who pass out every year”. Through it all, apart from her love for teaching, it was the single-minded dedication to her role that brought her results, for “failure was not an option”.

Related Topics:bodhitreepublications englishlanguageteaching englishliterature kalyanivallath tes totalenglishsolutions

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Women

Kareena Kapoor film festival : PVR celebrates 25 years of Kareena

Published

2 months ago

September 19, 2024

Reshma Vivekanandan

Kareena Kapoor, one of Bollywood’s biggest stars, has captivated audiences for over two decades. With her latest release, The Buckingham Murders, now in theatres, the actress has reached a significant milestone, celebrating 25 years in the Hindi film industry. To honor her illustrious career, PVR Cinemas is organizing a special multi-city film festival dedicated to Kareena—an unprecedented tribute for a female actor in India. Previously, only legends like Dilip Kumar and Amitabh Bachchan have received similar honors.

The festival will showcase some of Kareena’s most iconic performances on the big screen, featuring beloved characters such as Poo from Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Geet from Jab We Met, and her title role in Chameli. A trailer for the festival, highlighting these memorable roles, has already been released, with more details to follow soon.

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Having made her debut with JP Dutta’s Refugee in 2000, Kareena has starred in over 50 films, including Chameli, Omkara, Heroine, 3 Idiots, Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Udta Punjab, and Laal Singh Chaddha. Fans can look forward to seeing her next in Rohit Shetty’s Singham Again, alongside Ajay Devgn.

Women

Inspiring Indian Women Who Defied Age Norms

Published

9 months ago

February 21, 2024

Reshma Vivekanandan

Age is often perceived as a limitation, a barrier that holds individuals back from pursuing their dreams and achieving greatness. However, there are exceptional women who have shattered this misconception, proving that age is merely a number. In India, these remarkable women have demonstrated resilience, passion, and determination, inspiring countless others to defy societal expectations and pursue their aspirations regardless of their age.

SEEMA ANAND

Sex health instructor and storyteller Seema Anand is well-known for her gorgeous appearance and silver hair. But Seema’s Instagram account really shines because of the way she addresses sex and dispels ageist myths, providing insightful advice for senior citizens looking to have better sex. She dispels misconceptions about contraception and encourages body awareness. Both young and old who want to learn more about sexual pleasure should check out Anand’s account.

MANJRI VARDE

Manjri Varde is a skilled artist who, along with her actress daughter-in-law Sameera Reddy, is known online as “sassy saasu.” Together, they make humorous videos that question conventional wisdom regarding the dynamics of in-law relationships. She is a designer and artist who runs her own business, Samanjri, which sells poetry, calligraphy, and wearable art. Varde has a unique sense of style and is frequently spotted with brightly coloured sarees and scarves that she creates herself. Even though she is well-known on Instagram, where she frequently shares videos highlighting her love of art, entertaining, and cooking with her daughter-in-law.

SHEELA BAJAJ

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RAJINI CHANDY

Rajini Chandy, a 72-year-old homemaker actor came to light in 2021 thanks to a widely shared photo shoot. She looked better than many in tattered dresses and denim, even at her advanced age. She did, however, get harsh criticism for her wardrobe selections. At the age of 65, Rajini Chandy, who has 20,000+ Instagram followers, started her acting career in Malayalam films. Interestingly, she took part in a Big Boss Malayalam season as well.

SHANTHI RAMACHANDRAN

This former banker simply wanted to unwind and enjoy her life after retiring in 2015. She created a social media platform where she provides her cooking advice and techniques, supported by her daughter. She now goes as “Insta Aunty” and has amassed a sizable fan base since then. Shanthi Ramachandran has an astounding 53.3k followers, and her delicious posts will definitely make you hungry.

These remarkable women from India have defied age norms and shattered stereotypes, proving that with passion, determination, and resilience, anything is possible. Their stories serve as a powerful reminder that age should never be a barrier to pursuing dreams and achieving greatness. As we celebrate their accomplishments, let us draw inspiration from their journeys and strive to embrace our own potential, regardless of our age.

Fashion

Zeenath Aman’s new look that makes internet go crazy

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Reshma Vivekanandan

Zeenat Aman is very vocal with her Instagram followers. In her most recent post, the veteran actor, whose Instagram presence has managed to catch everyone’s attention, gave her take on fashion. The celebrity wrote in great depth about enjoying fashion and not limiting its associations to words like “sexy” and “glamour.” On her profile, one can see photos from her more recent adventures mixed in with nostalgic photos, all of which are accompanied by moving writing from the icon herself.

Aman has been called a retro fashion icon, but her Instagram shows that she hasn’t lost any of her style chops over the years. Aman’s style stands out amid a sea of fashion posts that are overflowing with trends but lacking in personality. The actor’s fashion choices and her tone of voice, which is hard to come by on social media, are a welcome contrast.

Taking to her Instagram to talk about her understanding of the concept of fashion, Zeenat shared a couple of pictures standing in an oversized white shirt and black pants from the new shoot. The actor said she is tired of hearing the word ‘bombshell’ and ‘diva’ attached to fashion all the time, and wants to pull the ‘focus on fun.’ Positive comments on the actor’s post were left by many, who praised her for defying stereotypes and serving as an inspiration.

Aman posed for the camera wearing a Payal Khandwala costume to celebrate her 50th Instagram post. Aman, who is never afraid to make a statement, defied the ageist fashion convention that “women of a certain age” should only wear neutral colour schemes. Aman wore a handwoven silk jacket in a lush green tone over her immaculate white shirt, giving the look the ideal pop of colour. The actor wore classic accessories including tiny golden earrings, black eyeglasses, and a brush of brick-red lipstick.