My Expressions

Ed Leader – Nirmal Mahna, Delhi Public School, Kathua

Education is an integral part of a child’s upbringing. We, at Curious Times, have made it our aim to ensure that we also play an active role in imparting the right knowledge to all the Curious children. As such, we also try to ensure that we are always in touch with the leaders in education today and learning from them. After all, it is important to learn from the best.

So, today, we present to you a one-on-one conversation with Nirmal Mahna. She is the Principal of Delhi Public School, Kathua. The school aims to build future leaders with a global vision who are socially oriented and value-based world citizens, ready to address core issues with empathy, honesty and sincerity.

Here is a short, edited excerpt of the one-on-one conversation of Nirmal Mahna with Deepti Beri, Director at Curious Times. Also, watch the full video of the conversation at the end of this excerpt.

When did you decide to step into the world of education? What motivated you to become an Educator? I have completed 37 years in this profession. As an army wife, I travelled a lot, along with my husband and taught in many schools. Then, when my husband got posted to Jammu, as I was working in DCM school, I realised that I didn’t want to be in the big cities, I wanted to be here. The children in these remote places needed guidance and I wanted to help them achieve their dreams. I and my staff travel 187 km every day to and from school, 2 hours each way. And what gives me great satisfaction and happiness is that these children that we taught are doing very well.

Last year, during the pandemic, in Jammu and Kashmir, we only had 2G internet and we had a tough time. It was a herculean effort to reach out to each and every child but the teachers made every effort. Even the students really cooperated and worked so hard, despite the slow internet. Seeing all this, automatically, made me want to help them all. It was so motivating.

About the school. Why did you want to be there? I am from Jammu itself. But I was away in different places and when I came back 26 years later, I realised that there was so much to do. There were many children in rural areas who could not get the right kind of education and facilities needed. So, when the management of DPS Kathua offered me the job, I agreed with some conditions and the management agreed. And I’ve been working here since.

My family sometimes tells me to slow down and maybe relax. But I really find this work so satisfying and I enjoy being here in Kathua.

What role do you see teachers play in education today, with technology playing such a huge part? Technology is crucial for big cities but for a small place such as Kathua, where many people are not familiar with it, there can be a misuse of technology. Teachers could also find it hard to adapt and use technology, especially in such areas. With hardly any parental supervision at home, it can be hard to reach out to children.

Message to aspiring teachers. As a leader, it is important to train even more leaders. And I’m proud to say that many teachers under me have gone on to head schools. I also make sure to appreciate the teachers’ work in the school and making them aspire to greater things.

Share your message for your and Curious Times students. Don’t deviate from your aims. Every child has the potential and so, you must go for it. Work hard and God bless you all.

Nirmal Mahna, Principal

Delhi Public School, Kathua

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