VIBGYOR Group of Schools, Author at VIBGYOR Reading Corner

Turning Classrooms into Windows to the World

Posted on September 8, 2025September 8, 2025 by VIBGYOR Group of Schools

Bringing human experiences into lessons to nurture compassion and global citizenship.

In this article, you’ll explore:
• Why real stories belong in classrooms too
• India’s own storybook: Real lives, impactful lessons
• Real-world impact from India’s classrooms
• Stories from across the world that resonate in India
• Why it works: Bringing storytelling to life
• How to use humanitarian stories in classroom discussions
• What can parents do at home?
• The road ahead: Normalising narratives through policies

Batman fights crime.

Spider-Man swings through skyscrapers.

Iron Man builds suits.

Shaktimaan channels his cosmic energy.

Doga takes down the underworld.

Nagraj summons his serpents to strike.

Sure, superheroes save cities.

But have you met real-life superheroes such as Babar Ali, who became the world’s youngest headmaster at the age of nine? Or Srishti Goswami, who served as Uttarakhand’s Chief Minister for a day at 19? Or school kids in Varanasi, who planted thousands of trees during a drought?

These are the quiet heroes. And their humanitarian stories in education are transforming the way students understand the world.

Why real stories belong in classrooms too

Education doesn’t just involve math and maps. It is more about making sense of the world and one’s place in it. That’s where storytelling in classrooms becomes powerful, particularly when it involves incorporating narratives in teaching that reflect human courage, resilience, and justice.

The 2024 journal The Effectiveness of Storytelling in Enhancing Empathy in Bilingual Kindergarten Students mentions that, by engaging with fictional narratives, children gain a safe space to explore and understand complex emotions.

When we incorporate humanitarian education in schools, we make lessons feel more real and impactful.

India’s own storybook: Real lives, impactful lessons

Across India, real-life narratives are turning into powerful teaching tools, shaping how students learn about empathy, justice, and social change.

Real-world impact from India’s classrooms

These initiatives demonstrate that when students encounter stories grounded in reality, they not only learn but also grow.

Ashoka University’s Human Library in Delhi: At Ashoka University, students sat face-to-face with real-life heroes, acid attack survivors, refugees, and social workers, who shared their personal stories. These dismantled students’ assumptions and demonstrated the power of stories in learning.

Bengaluru’s “Classroom on Wheels”: A mobile classroom launched in July 2025 in Doddakallasandra, Bengaluru – the Eco‑Savaari initiative – brings interactive lessons on biodiversity, climate change, snake awareness, and water management directly to schools.

Madhya Pradesh’s “Anand Sabha”: From 2025-26, all government high schools and higher secondary schools in Madhya Pradesh plan to initiate Anand Sabha, a weekly student gathering in Classes 9–10, featuring storytelling, games, and mindfulness, to foster empathy, moral values, and emotional well-being.

Stories from across the world that resonate in India

Global humanitarian narratives serve as powerful tools in Indian classrooms, reflecting the values we hold dear. These stories urge students to feel, think, and act with greater purpose.

Malala Yousafzai: Malala’s fight for girls’ education has inspired schools across India to host readings and reflections on “I Am Malala,” encouraging students to value education and speak up for their rights.

Alan Kurdi: Alan Kurdi’s story has been powerfully integrated into classroom learning, prompting students to reflect deeply on the experiences of refugees and develop empathy. The model described in 2024 Promoting Students’ Engagement and Empathy toward Refugees through the Illustrated Book Sea Prayer, encourages empathetic engagement through art, interviews, and storytelling.

Amanda Gorman: Amanda Gorman’s “The Hill We Climb” is used in classroom discussions on humanitarian issues, exploring how art and words can drive change.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Why it works: Bringing storytelling to life

Last year, I read a short story to my students about a boy displaced due to floods. As I read, the room fell silent. One student, usually lost in her desk, sat upright, eyes glued to the page.

After class, she whispered, “Ma’am, I’ve never been in a flood. But I felt like I was there.”

That moment has stayed with me. Later, I discovered research by Dr. Uri Hasson of Princeton, who found that when we listen to a compelling story, our brain waves sync with the storyteller’s. It is called neural coupling, a kind of mind-to-mind connection that makes stories more than just words.

That’s the quiet magic of a good story. It makes the unfamiliar feel personal.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………

How to use humanitarian stories in classroom discussions

Begin with a story, not a statistic

Instead of “10 million child labourers in India,” begin with the story of Lakshmi, a 13-year-old who escaped bonded labour and now advocates for children’s rights.

Why it matters: Stories build emotional connection. Data alone can’t do that.

Link stories to the curriculum

Connect real-world stories to classroom concepts, such as Sonam Wangchuk’s ice stupas in Ladakh for lessons on climate resilience, or Aruna Rai’s RTI campaign to explore civics and activism.

Why it matters: Stories help students apply empathy to what they are already studying.

Use authentic, first-person accounts

Use real voices from platforms such as YuWaah by UNICEF India, Youth Ki Awaaz, and Kalki Subramaniam’s Red Wall Project for great reference points.

Why it matters: Incorporating real-life humanitarian narratives in lessons gives faces to facts.

Create dialogue, not debate

Humanitarian storytelling works best when followed by guided classroom discussions with open-ended questions, such as, “How would you feel in their shoes?” or “What could you have done differently?”

Why it matters: Encourages students to think deeply rather than argue loudly.

What can parents do at home?

The road ahead: Normalising narratives through policies

The National Education Policy 2020 mentions that the school curriculum will include, from the outset, material on human values such as respect for all persons, empathy, tolerance, human rights, gender equality, non-violence, global citizenship, inclusion, and equity.

Embedding humanitarian narratives into the national curriculum is an essential pedagogical approach. To raise thoughtful citizens, schools must look past blackboards and into the hearts of lived experiences. Because the benefits of storytelling in education for social awareness extend beyond test scores, they build character.

In a world that often rushes past quiet struggles and silent heroes, storytelling in the classroom slows us down, just enough to notice, feel, and care. When classrooms become spaces where humanitarian stories in education are heard, felt, and understood, education moves beyond exams and enters a place of empathy. Because before our children can change the world, they must first see it, not as chapters in a textbook, but as lives lived, rights fought for, and hope carried forward. And that begins with a story.

Chalk, Courage, Change: Led by Educators

Posted on September 4, 2025September 4, 2025 by VIBGYOR Group of Schools

Remarkable journeys of teachers who proved that one act of belief can change the future.

In this article, you’ll explore:
• Illuminating the path: The power of great teachers
Inspirational stories of renowned teachers
> Savitribai Phule
> Anne Sullivan
> Dr. A. P. J Abdul Kalam
• The one-man mission: Rajnikant Mendhe’s journey of grit
> Ziauddin Yousafzai
> Geoffrey Canada
• Remembering Kashibai: A martyr in education
> Ranjitsinh Disale
> Anand Kumar
> Sonam Wangchuk
• Aditya Kumar: The Cycle Guruji
• Teachers in the age of tech and transformation

In a world that celebrates business victories and corporate success, the quiet yet powerful impact of teachers is often overlooked. Yet, behind every curious mind is an educator who believed and sparked change. These are the life-changing teacher stories that don’t make headlines but shape futures in unexpected ways.

Illuminating the path: The power of great teachers

Ask anyone who has achieved something meaningful, and they will tell you: somewhere, a teacher believed in them first. Influential teachers shape a student’s sense of self-worth and help them become their most confident self.

A 2025 Exploring the Role of Empathy in Student Mental Health Outcomes research article by Frontiers in Psychology states that higher levels of perceived teacher empathy correlate with reduced stress, anxiety, and depression while enhancing student engagement in learning activities.

As we go back in time to explore India’s vast educational landscape, with 1.5 million schools and 250 million students, what emerges are not only numbers, but inspirational names. Names of passionate educators who have altered the arc of a child’s destiny.

Inspirational stories of renowned teachers Celebrating impactful educators is about honouring their untold triumphs. Here are seven noteworthy life-changing teacher stories which are stitched with grit, empathy, and extraordinary resilience.

The one-man mission: Rajinikanth Mendhe’s journey of grit Rajinikanth braves a 50-kilometre journey through slippery mud trails and cliffs just to reach the children of Chandar, a secluded village tucked away in Maharashtra’s Velhe taluka. He has been the only government teacher there for eight years, showing up daily to teach just one student. Till date, his commitment to a single child reminds us that impact isn’t measured in crowds; it is measured in care.

Remembering Kashibai: A martyr in education In 1880, Dr. Vishram Ramji Ghole built a water fountain in Pune in memory of his daughter, Kashibai, who was poisoned when she was eight years old for attending one of India’s earliest girls’ schools. The fountain, topped with a doll statue symbolising her nickname “Bahuli”, became a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made for women’s education.

Aditya Kumar: The ‘Cycle Guruji’ Known as the ‘Cycle Wale Guruji’, Aditya Kumar from Lucknow has been providing free education to children since 1995. Riding approximately 60-65 kilometres daily on his bicycle, he carries a portable blackboard, teaching wherever children are willing to learn.

Teachers in the age of tech and transformation

Today’s classrooms have evolved. Screens have now replaced blackboards, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) competes with human instruction. But even amidst these shifts, the role of a teacher remains irreplaceable. Because while machines can inform, only humans can inspire.

Teachers today are not only instructors but also digital navigators, emotional anchors, and lifelong learners themselves. From adapting to hybrid classrooms to incorporating mental health modules into everyday lessons, they continue to rise to the occasion.

The National Education Policy 2020 Teacher and Teacher Education mentions that the high respect for teachers and the high status of the teaching profession must be revived and restored for the very best to be inspired to enter the profession, for teachers to be well motivated and empowered to innovate, and for education to therefore reach the heights and levels that are truly required to ensure the best possible future for children and the nation.

However, what unites these passionate teachers’ journeys isn’t the fame, degrees, or glowing accolades. It is the transformative power of empathy. From remote villages to conflict zones, these real-life stories of successful teachers echo a single belief that every child, no matter their circumstances, deserves to be seen, heard, and empowered through learning.

So, the next time the school bell rings, pause. Because somewhere, a teacher is rewriting someone’s future – often with nothing more than a handwritten note. These are the unsung heroes who are shaping the future leaders. Let’s honour them, not just on Teacher’s Day, but every day. Behind every engineer, artist, and doctor is a teacher who once said, “You can”. And that whisper became a belief for someone. These real-life stories of successful teachers aren’t footnotes in history; they’re force multipliers of human potential.

How To Teach Children Empathy In An Age Of Misinformation

Posted on August 25, 2025August 25, 2025 by VIBGYOR Group of Schools

In the many dreams we nurture for our children, such as academic success, a secure future, and a meaningful career, one hope quietly anchors them all: that they grow into good people

We want our children to be kind. To care deeply. To listen before judging. To honour another person’s pain even when it’s different from their own. These may not feature in a syllabus, but they are the life skills that determine how meaningfully our children will connect with the world.

And yet, in today’s climate, where misinformation is rampant and social media often rewards outrage over understanding, empathy can feel harder to teach, and even harder to model. But empathy, now more than ever, is essential. Fortunately, it can be nurtured through consistency, awareness, and the shared efforts of both parents and educators.

Empathy: More Than a Feeling

The word empathy has its roots in the Greek word empatheia, meaning “in feeling.” It’s not just about being kind, it’s about understanding. Psychologists often speak of two key forms:

● Emotional empathy: the ability to feel what another person feels

● Cognitive empathy: the capacity to grasp what someone else might be thinking or feeling from their point of view.

When children develop both, they don’t just react with compassion; they learn to respond with thoughtfulness and maturity. In a world flooded with emotionally charged content, this balance is more than noble — it’s necessary.

The Misinformation Maze

Children today are absorbing information at an unprecedented pace, through news clips, social media feeds, gaming platforms, and casual conversations. A large portion of this content provokes strong emotions but offers little nuance. In this landscape, what spreads fastest is rarely what’s most accurate — it’s what’s most inflammatory.

It’s no surprise, then, that researchers have long been sounding the alarm. A widely cited study found that empathy levels among teenagers had declined by 40 per cent over three decades, with nearly 75 per cent of college-age students reporting they were less likely to imagine another person’s perspective or show concern for those less fortunate. Similarly, Harvard’s Making Caring Common report, based on a survey of over 10,000 teens, revealed that 80 per cent prioritised high achievement or personal happiness, while only 20 per cent placed caring for others at the top. Most teens also felt that their parents were more focused on success than kindness. While these studies date back some years, their relevance has only deepened in the current digital age, where screen time has increased and virtual interactions often take precedence over real-world connections.

These aren’t just statistics — they’re signposts. They reflect a culture in which empathy is quietly sidelined, not out of neglect, but under the mounting pressures of modern life, which is precisely why the influence of both home and school has never been more critical.

Small Acts, Lasting Lessons: What Adults Can Do

Empathy doesn’t flourish through instruction alone; it takes root through repeated, lived experience. Here are some of the ways parents and educators can help children develop this essential skill:

Model empathy in everyday life

Children mirror what they see. When adults speak respectfully, listen without interrupting, or engage with people who think differently, children learn that these behaviours matter. Choosing explanation over dismissal, or patience over frustration, quietly affirms the value of empathy — without ever needing a lecture.

Talk about what they’re seeing online

Rather than shielding children from every troubling post or opinion, engage with it together. Ask: “What do you think this means?” or “Why might someone feel that way?” These conversations teach children to pause, reflect, and process information with care, not just react to it.

Use stories to build perspective

Narratives — whether found in books, films, or daily conversations — can be powerful tools for developing empathy. When children encounter stories about experiences vastly different from their own, like a refugee’s journey or a child navigating life with a disability, they begin to broaden their emotional understanding. Over time, these encounters nurture deeper compassion and the ability to relate to others with greater sensitivity.

Create space for discomfort

It’s tempting to rush in and resolve every conflict, but sometimes, the most profound learning comes from sitting with ambiguity. When children grapple with questions that don’t have easy answers, they develop emotional resilience and the capacity to hold multiple perspectives — a hallmark of mature empathy.

Praise thinking, not just answers

Instead of asking “What’s the right answer?”, try “What made you think that?” This can be a small shift, but a powerful one. It tells children that their thought process, especially when it considers others’ feelings and viewpoints, is as valuable as getting it ‘right.’

Empathy Is a Shared Responsibility

Empathy isn’t a ‘nice-to-have’, it’s a vital life skill. It allows children to collaborate meaningfully, navigate disagreement with dignity, and grow into adults who value understanding as much as achievement.

In this endeavour, parents and educators stand side by side. Every conversation, every shared story, every moment of active listening becomes a brick in the foundation of who a child becomes.

Because in an age where truth is often contested and digital noise can drown out human connection, empathy may be the most powerful — and lasting — education we can give

It Takes Two To Teach

Posted on August 18, 2025September 12, 2025 by VIBGYOR Group of Schools

When parents and teachers listen, learn, and lead together, children thrive.

In this article, you’ll discover:
• The lost connection: Reconnecting with Gurukul roots
• Why parent involvement in education matters
• Lessons from India: Ground-level success stories
• Global viewpoint: What the world is doing
• Ways to build a strong school and parent partnership
• Pitfalls that parents should watch out for
• Interactive moments: Quick reflections for parents

These are not just passing thoughts. They are the quiet emotions that live between home and school – the gap where a child’s struggles often go unseen. So, when schools and homes function in isolation, children slip through the silence. A stronger school and parent partnership creates student support systems that listen before judging and help children grow.

The lost connection: Reconnecting with Gurukul roots

In ancient Gurukul systems, education wasn’t confined to the classroom. A guru was a lifelong anchor who nurtured wisdom and shaped character. Parents, peers, and elders contributed to the child’s learning journey. That was a genuine parent-teacher relationship: holistic, constant, and collective. Today’s education system needs to rediscover that synergy.

As digital learning and exam ranks take centre stage, rebuilding that living network, where parents, teachers, and communities work together, is essential for maximising educational support for children.

Why parent involvement in education matters

Studies across the globe consistently show that children perform better when their parents are involved in their learning process.

In 400 villages in Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh, PAHAL activities included opportunities for parents to get involved with their children’s homework, which saw dramatic improvements in literacy levels.

The 2008 Family Involvement and Children’s Literacy study by Harvard Graduate School of Education explains that when individual parents became increasingly involved in their children’s education from kindergarten to fifth grade, children’s literacy performance increased as well, on average.

These numbers represent something deeper: students who feel supported at home and understood in school experience the kind of confidence that textbooks alone cannot build.

Lessons from India: Ground-level success stories

Each of these showcases innovative parent-teacher collaboration that’s rooted in real life.

NIPUN Maharashtra Mission

Under the NIPUN Maharashtra Mission, lakhs of mothers stepped into the role of educators as part of the state’s Foundational Literacy and Numeracy (FLN) initiative. Many of these women, who had little formal education, hosted learning circles in their homes. This grassroots movement redefined the parent-teacher relationship, placing families at the heart of the learning process.

Parenting Month in Jharkhand

Aligned with UNICEF guidelines, government schools in Ranchi organised ‘Parenting Month’, a month-long series of activities honouring the role of parents in child development. The Jharkhand Education Project Council (JEPC) instructed schools to implement a dedicated parenting activity calendar, which the Block Resource Person (BRP) and the Cluster Resource Person (CRP) monitor daily.

Chandigarh’s Mission 100

In May, the UT education department launched Mission 100, where several government schools in Chandigarh organised special parent-teacher meetings to encourage collaboration between teachers and parents in developing plans for extra classes and guidance to help students clear their supplementary exams.

Global viewpoint: What the world is doing

While India leads in community-based learning methods, some global experiences also focus on parent involvement in education.

The 2013 Getting Parents Involved: A Field Experiment in Deprived Schools article by The Review of Economic Studies mentions that parents of middle-school children in France were invited to participate in a simple program of parent-school meetings on how to get better involved in their children’s education.

A study conducted in 2019 found that in rural China, around 6,000 students and 600 teachers found that schools with more active communication between home and school saw significant drops in learning-related anxiety and improvements in achievements.

A Collaborative Approach to Enhance Quality Education in Foundation Phase Inclusive Classes in South Africa 2024, an article by ResearchGate, claims that several South African schools, guided by the Ubuntu principle, have implemented inclusive teaching through collaborative partnerships between schools, stakeholders, and parents, where each of their roles is clearly defined.

Ways to build a strong school and parent partnership

Weekly WhatsApp check-ins
- How it works: Teachers share brief voice notes summarising the week and inviting parent feedback
- Why it matters: It is real-time, regular, and personal and builds parents’ confidence in supporting learning at home

Solution-focused PTMs
- How it works: Instead of discussing only marks, focus on topics such as “Supporting exam stress” or “Exploring better reading habits at home”
- Why it matters: These sessions shift the conversation from evaluation to co-creation, using reports as touchpoints, not endpoints

Parent orientation on foundational learning
- How it works: Host orientation sessions for parents of Grade I-III students about how children learn – phonics, number sense, and curiosity
- Why it matters: Empowering parents with basic tools and strategies creates a stronger learning environment at home, especially during early childhood when habits and mindsets are formed

Co-host learning days
- How it works: Invite parents to co-design and participate in ‘Family Learning Days’ with storytelling corners, group math games, or science demos
- Why it matters: When parents actively participate in learning activities, it strengthens mutual respect and reinforces that education is a shared responsibility, not limited to school hours

Community-led curriculum labs
- How it works: Parents as volunteers can co-lead book reading sessions, gardening clubs, or science project groups, aligning with the school curriculum
- Why it matters: When learning spills into community settings, it deepens learning through real-world applications and creates shared curiosity across households

These actions shape a stronger student support system across school and home.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

Sakshi and her science project

A quiet 9-year-old Sakshi came home one evening with a science project assignment. Wanting her to do well, her mom jumped in – researching, designing, and building the model. At school, the project drew praise, but Sakshi stood silently beside it, unsure of how to explain something she hadn’t made.

Her teacher noticed this, and during the next PTM, she gently asked, “How much of this did Sakshi build on her own?”

That night, Sakshi finally confessed, “I wanted to try… but it felt like you already knew the right way.”

That is when her mother realised that she had meant to support, not overshadow. So the next time, she asked, “What’s your idea? How do you want to do this?”

The project that Sakshi built wasn’t perfect and had its own flaws. But Sakshi was proud of what she had created. And this time, the applause felt earned.

…………………………………………………………………………………………

Interactive moments: Quick reflections for parents

Take a moment and answer these questions:

Have you spoken to your child’s teacher beyond exams?
Do you know this topic is being taught in school this week?
Have you asked your little one what they are finding difficult to learn?
What is the one thing you can do this week to support your child’s learning?

These aren’t big demands, yet they make a big difference. When your child witnesses that you are making an effort with their teacher, they learn to trust more deeply.

Education doesn’t end with homework sheets or exam marks. Its impact travels home through discussions around the dinner table, weekend reading, or bedtime stories. Parent-teacher collaboration is that bridge, turning classrooms and homes into synchronised spaces of understanding, resilience, and care.

It is time we revive the spirit of the ancient Gurukul, where learning thrived in community, values, and deep relationships. Children feel seen, heard, and empowered when the school and parent partnership is an ongoing and sincere effort. Because the strongest classrooms are built by trust, teamwork, and the quiet power of connection.

Diverse by Birth. United by Heart.

Posted on August 11, 2025August 11, 2025 by VIBGYOR Group of Schools

From languages to landscapes, celebrating every difference brings us closer as a nation.

In this article, you’ll find:
•India, in numbers: A living mosaic
•Freedom to be different, freedom in being recognised
•From state to state, a shared story
•India abroad: A display of heritage and unity
•Classrooms that celebrate cultural diversity
•Independence Day: Simple ideas with significant impact
•For schools: What you can do
•For parents: What you can do
•Why do these initiatives matter?

India speaks in many tongues, dresses in various styles, and prays in different ways – but it beats with one heart. From the snowy peaks of Kashmir to the southern shores of Kanyakumari, every festival and dialect reflects the cultural diversity of India. And as we prepare to celebrate Independence Day 2025, we honour the freedom of Indian culture and traditions, as well as the harmony we continue to build every single day.

India, in numbers: A living mosaic

India is one of the most culturally rich and diverse nations in the world. The strength of Indian culture lies in facts as much as in feelings:

Over 2,000 ethnic groups, including 645 tribal communities

123 major languages and 1,599 dialects

22 official languages

300+ classical and folk dance forms, including Bharatnatyam, Bihu, Garba, Kalbelia, and more

8 major religions, all practised freely

Thousands of festivals, each rooted in distinct regional beliefs

These numbers are what make unity in diversity in India a lived reality.

Freedom to be different, freedom in being recognised

We often remember India’s independence as the fight against colonial rule. But real freedom is more about our right to express, be different, and feel accepted. Consider these inspiring stories:

Ruma Devi: A self-taught artisan from Rajasthan, Ruma Devi has trained 22,000 artisans from 75 villages across the Thar region in Rajasthan through traditional embroidery, preserving heritage and generating income.

T.M. Krishna: Carnatic vocalist T.M. Krishna brought Carnatic classical music to the Dalits and the slums. He challenges caste norms through music while protecting its soul.

Siddalingaiah: Siddalingaiah, often hailed as the father of Kannada Dalit literature, co-founded the Dalit Sangharsha Samiti and was posthumously awarded the Padma Shri in 2021 for amplifying the voices of the marginalised community through poetry and activism.

These are some noteworthy stories that reflect the strength of Indian culture, where diversity is not only embraced but also celebrated and given a voice.

From state to state, a shared story

India’s diversity is vividly geographical; once you travel across the country, every state reveals a world of its own. In Nagaland, the Hornbill Festival brings together 17 major tribes to celebrate heritage through dances, games, and folklore. While Onam in Kerala is a grand homecoming, bringing Hindus, Christians, and Muslims together for feasts, boat races, and intricate floral rangoli, Lohri in Punjab warms winter nights with bonfires and folk songs. In Gujarat, Navratri brings vibrancy, as people from all backgrounds come together for garba, music, and festive celebrations.

All the moments showcase how India celebrates Independence Day with cultural diversity, making space for every voice and every tradition.

India abroad: A display of heritage and unity

Indian communities around the world carry their roots with pride. From national days to regional festivals, here are some ways that the diaspora continues to honour traditions that unite them across borders.

New York City, USA: 78^th Independence Day celebrations

Indians across NYC gathered at the Consulate, Times Square, and Lower Manhattan, celebrating with a flag hoisting ceremony, cultural performances, and participation by the diaspora.

Dubai, UAE: Rath Yatra by Odisha Samaj

In a major diaspora gathering, around 500 Odias and other families participated in the 15th annual Rath Yatra, showcasing Odisha’s temple culture abroad.

Sydney, Australia: Durga Puja at the Ponds Community Hub

The Bengali community in Sydney, Australia, organised traditional Durga Puja immersions, taking our rituals, music, and culture overseas. These global celebrations offer a cultural nostalgia and serve as reminders of Indian heritage and unity, echoing the spirit of unity in diversity across continents.

Classrooms that celebrate cultural diversity

In a country as diverse as India, classrooms are a rich mix of languages, traditions, and identities. Recognising this, educational policies are increasingly embracing cultural diversity as a strength.

The 52^nd report of the Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities highlights state efforts to encourage interaction among students from diverse linguistic communities, thereby further supporting the narrative of classroom diversity.

Even the 2023 Global Education Monitoring Report by UNESCO reinforces the value of inclusive, multilingual education. It also highlights India’s model as a promising, evidence-based approach to advancing SDG4 through cultural responsiveness and equity.

Independence Day: Simple ideas with significant impact

For parents and educators, here are some meaningful Indian Independence Day celebration ideas that highlight the strength of Indian culture:

For schools: What you can do

Flavours of India – A regional food flair: Turn the classroom into a mini food festival. Feature dishes such as Puran Poli, Makkai di Roti, and Sarson da Saag, each labelled with the state of origin. It is a delicious way to explore the diversity of Indian states.

“My Language, My Pride” speech: Let each student greet the school with a “Happy Independence Day” in their mother tongue, followed by a short poem, rhyme, or greeting.

Touch, see, learn – Cultural corners: Set up small learning stations for Rangoli, folk instruments, and other activities. Let students interact, learn, and appreciate the strength of Indian culture through hands-on experiences.

Storytelling circles: Invite grandparents to share short folktales, rhymes, or personal stories in regional languages. It bridges generations and adds personal meaning to celebrating Independence Day in India.

Performances that unite: Host an assembly featuring folk dances and music from across the country, such as Bihu, Bhangra, Lavani, or Manipuri dance, showcasing the artistic pulse of festivals of India and diversity.

Why do these initiatives matter?

These simple yet thoughtful efforts are far more than celebration ideas. They are acts of connection and preservation. This is why they count:

Empathy grows through experience

When children learn a new language, perform a folk dance, or hear a story in another dialect, they begin to see the world through someone else’s eyes.

Inclusion begins with visibility

Cultural diversity activities ensure that students from smaller or lesser-known communities feel seen, valued, and proud of their identity.

Protecting heritage starts early

India is losing hundreds of its languages. Of the 780 living languages, many are at risk of vanishing. Supporting multilingual learning helps protect this living heritage.

Fostering respect, not stereotypes

Hands-on exposure to diverse cultures reduces prejudice, encourages open dialogue, and fosters a sense of familiarity, replacing fear with understanding.

Unity strengthens resilience

During Cyclone Fani, multilingual communication played a crucial role in evacuating over a million people safely in Odisha, demonstrating that inclusive messaging can save lives.

Independence is meaningful when it includes every voice, honours every identity, and protects every tradition. As we mark Independence Day 2025, India, the true celebration lies in how we recognise and respect the differences that define us. Across homes, schools, and communities, embracing the cultural diversity in India isn’t a gesture – it is a responsibility. When we speak in many languages yet act with shared purpose, we strengthen the soul of this nation. So, this Independence Day, let’s carry that force into the future – through the way we live, the way we listen, and the way we stand beside one another.

From Equations to Expressions

Posted on August 6, 2025August 6, 2025 by VIBGYOR Group of Schools

Not all equations are written; some of them are drawn, painted, carved, and felt.

In this article, you’ll read about:
• Math and art: A universal language
• Hidden geometry in Indian architecture
• Kolam patterns and the Fibonacci connection
• Mandala: The circle of logic
• Folk art: Geometry in disguise
• Why it matters: A perspective shift for educators
• The power of applying geometry in art education
• Artful ways to teach math
• The future is digital and beautiful

In a small school in Bhopal, a 14-year-old Shreyas was a backbencher. He quietly sketched patterns in the margins of his math book, anything to avoid the numbers that made him feel small.

But everything changed the day Dubey Sir introduced him to tessellations, first through M.C. Escher. Together, they explored rangoli designs, intricate tile patterns, and more. Shreyas started redrawing equations as designs.

His diagrams turned into mandalas, and the compass became his favourite tool. Today, he tops his class in geometry. The math book he once dreaded now holds spirals, repeating forms, and newfound confidence.

“Math stopped being scary,” he says, “when it started looking like art”.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

“Mathematics is the music of reason” – James Joseph Sylvester

Like music, Mathematics flows – structured yet expressive, precise yet poetic. Mathematics in art reveals itself through balance, rhythm, and proportions. Every recurring motif or spiral line is geometry in motion and an example of visual math concepts.

Using geometry in art education, teachers don’t just implement formulas or teach shapes. They offer students a new way to view the world.

Math and art: A universal language

At the National Museum of Mathematics (MoMath), symmetry is everywhere. From the layout of letters to patterns in body movement, visitors can explore different symmetry principles. This highlights that exploring symmetry through art opens up fresh, new ways to grasp patterns, movement, and meaning.

In Kerala, Kathakali makeup uses perfect bilateral symmetry, while Bharatanatyam dance in Tamil Nadu teaches more about angles and alignment with mudras. This is how math and art integration becomes a language.

Hidden geometry in Indian architecture

Sun Temple, Konark

Consider the Kailasa Temple in Ellora, Maharashtra. Carved from a single rock, the temple’s layout follows axial symmetry and proportions rooted in Vastu Shastra. If you look closely, the design of the Sun Temple in Konark aligns with astronomical events, including cosmic symbolism through precise stone placement.The 2023 Fractal Geometry and Its Application in Maharashtra’s Hindu Temple Architecture study by the International Journal of Civil Engineering and Architecture Engineering states that, symbolically, fractal-like patterns in Hindu temples represent spiritual transcendence, divine order, and cosmic cycles.

Quiz Corner:
The Sun Temple in Konark features 24 chariot wheels. What do they represent?
• 24 mathematical theorems
• 24 lunar cycles
• 24 hours of a day ✅
• 24 seasons in Indian mythology

Kolam patterns and the Fibonacci connection

We often associate the Fibonacci sequence in art with Da Vinci’s ‘Vitruvian Man”. However, identical spiral sequences appear in the Kolam designs made by women in South India. These symmetrical patterns, passed down through generations, echo complex math.

In the 2007 paper Fundamental Study on Design System of Kolam Pattern, two

researchers from Japan, Kiwamu Yanagisawa and Shojiro Nagata, studied kolam

designs and found that they could be turned into computer codes using patterns of 1s and 0s, just like in programming. This showed that kolams follow clear rules and repeatable steps, like algorithms in computer graphics or coding.

Mandala: The circle of logic

A mandala is a geometric art in its purest form. Designed from concrete shapes and symmetry, it is a tool for meditation and mathematics alike. Drawing mandalas can teach visual math concepts such as rotation, radius, and proportion.

Quiz Corner: Which of these materials can be used to make a mandala?
• Only pencil and paper
• Just paint and canvas
• Anything from flowers, sand, stones to colours ✅
• Only digital tools

Folk art: Geometry in disguise

Art forms	Math concepts	How it helps
Warli (Maharashtra)	Triangles, proportions	Strengthens understanding of shapes, sizes, and proportions.
Madhubani (Bihar)	Border patterns, tessellations	Helps understand repetitions, sequencing, and symmetry.
Mandana (Rajasthan)	Axial symmetry, repetition	Reinforces symmetry through hands-on visual exploration.
Kalamkari (Andhra Pradesh)	Geometry in storytelling layout	Allows students to understand spatial layout, scaling, and visual narrative.

These are examples of math and art integration, linking culture with curriculum. When students draw Warli huts or Madhubani borders, they introduce a new form of storytelling.

Quiz Corner: What do Warli huts and butterfly wings have in common?
• All are based on the golden ratio
• All use symmetry and repetition ✅
• All avoid circles
• All of the above

Why it matters: A perspective shift for educators

For teachers, using geometry in art education is less of a method and more of a shift in perspective. It is not just about reducing math to play. It is about making learning meaningful by grasping structure, proportion, and spatial logic.

This is precisely what the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 promotes: a multidisciplinary, experiential learning approach that connects classroom content with real-world expression. The policy insists that education must be experiential, holistic, integrated, inquiry-driven, discovery-oriented, learner-centred, discussion-based, flexible, and enjoyable.

The power of applying geometry in art education

Making math click: When students draw, fold, or build, they see logic. This way, concepts aren’t memorised; they are lived and experienced by them.

Bringing joy to learning: By implementing spirals, patterns, and murals, students can turn math into play. Even the quietest students can get excited when it is a hands-on experience.

Reducing math anxiety: By integrating art into mathematics, students don’t fear the subject. They start to find it friendly rather than frightening.

Fostering teamwork: Group projects are designed to accommodate all kinds of learners. Whether visual, kinesthetic, or analytical, they all get an opportunity to shine together.

Connecting curriculum to culture: From Warli and Kolam to Mandala and Kalamkari, students see that math isn’t just for the books. It is embedded in their heritage, making it relatable and meaningful.

Artful ways to teach math

Start small
Activity: Ask students to look around and list any symmetrical objects they can spot.

Example: Floor tiles often show mirror or rotational symmetry; the classroom clock may have radial symmetry with numbers spaced evenly around.

Use traditional art for deeper learning
Activity: Let students create a Madhubani border by repeating shapes.

Example: Ask them to draw six flower or fish motifs in a row, showing how a shape can repeat to form a tessellation.

Encourage math walks
Activity: Students photograph patterns during their walk to school and around the house.

Example: The spiral in a sunflower, the design on a tile floor, or the star-shaped pattern on a sliced ladyfinger are perfect examples of visual math concepts.

Curate a math-art gallery
Activity: Ask students to make a piece of art that includes math, and then explain the math behind it.

Example: A student can draw a house using triangles, rectangles and circles, then label the shapes and count the angles, showcasing how mathematics in art works in real life.

The future is digital and beautiful

The next wave of math and art integration can be experienced on screens, tablets, and interactive whiteboards. With design tools like Adobe Illustrator and Procreate, students can construct intricate geometric art while grasping core mathematical ideas like angles, ratios, and transformations. Apps like GeoGebra bring math to life, letting learners experiment with visual math concepts. Meanwhile, coding platforms like Scratch turn equations into animations. Students can use loops, variables, and logic to generate spirals, tiling effects, and recursive designs. Here, exploring symmetry through art becomes a gamified experience.

Mathematics and art aren’t opposites; they are reflections of each other. One speaks in numbers, and the other in nuances. Yet, both traditions are built on shared ideas – balance, symmetry, rhythm, and structure. A theorem and mural may start differently, but they both seek harmony, making math and art integration possible. We believe that while art gives math its emotion, math gives art its foundation.

By utilising geometry in art education, they bring order to chaos. When students combine logic with the lyrical, they are not just learning; they are understanding. And in that space, math is no longer feared. It becomes familiar, meaningful, and deeply human.

Author: VIBGYOR Group of Schools

Chalk, Courage, Change: Led by Educators

It Takes Two To Teach

Diverse by Birth. United by Heart.

From Equations to Expressions

ABOUT US

TEACHING & LEARNING

ADMISSIONS

MEDIA

CONTACT US

CAREERS

EXPLORE

OUR INITIATIVES

EXISTING PARENTS

Reading Corner

Savitribai Phule: The torchbearer of girls’ education During a time when society shunned women’s education, Savitribai Phule dared to go against the norm and teach. In 1848, she started India’s first girls’ school in Pune, often facing social ostracism and abuse. However, she remained steadfast in her belief that education levels the playing field. She remains a towering figure among influential teachers, not just for what she taught, but for what she stood for: dignity, equity, and empowerment.
Anne Sullivan: The eyes of Helen Keller Despite being visually impaired, Anne Sullivan became a beacon for young Helen Keller, who was both visually and hearing impaired. Through patience and determination, she taught Helen to communicate, read, and speak, opening a world she had never known. This is one of history’s most powerful real-life stories of successful teachers, proving that with patience, love, and perseverance, even the impossible can be achieved
Dr. A. P. J Abdul Kalam: President, scientist, teacher “Teaching is my soul,” Dr. Kalam often said. Even as President, he made unplanned visits to schools. He strongly believed that real success was measured not in awards, but in awakening young minds. His school visits, impromptu lectures, and handwritten letters to students made him a shining example of humility and hope.

Ranjitsinh Disale: QR codes and quiet revolutions At a rundown school in Solapur, Maharashtra, Ranjitsinh Disale brought in QR-coded textbooks that supported multilingual learning, giving students access to audio poems, video lessons, and assignments. His unique teaching methods resulted in full classroom attendance, with a remarkable rise in the number of girls attending. In 2020, he became the first Indian to receive the $1 million Global Teacher Prize.
Anand Kumar: Architect of Super 30 A mathematician from Bihar, Anand, founded Super 30 to train bright yet economically disadvantaged students for the highly competitive IIT entrance exams in India. Using minimal resources and maximum dedication, he helped hundreds crack one of the world’s toughest exams. His path, marked by financial struggles, personal losses, and serious threats, stands among the most inspirational teacher stories in India.
Sonam Wangchuk: A reformer who redefined failure High in the Himalayas, Sonam Wangchuk’s Students’ Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL) school opens its doors to students who haven’t thrived in traditional classrooms, giving them another shot through practical learning. By blending sustainability with regional knowledge, SECMOL has brought a significant shift to Ladakh’s education system, greatly lowering dropout rates.