logo
The transformative power of Kalai Thiruvizha: a teacher's journey

The transformative power of Kalai Thiruvizha: a teacher's journey

The Hindu3 days ago

As educators, we often walk a tightrope — balancing academics with the complex realities of students' lives. I once believed that academic success alone could uplift students from challenging circumstances. But my perspective changed profoundly with Kalai Thiruvizha, a cultural festival introduced in Tamil Nadu's government schools.
Initially, I approached the festival with skepticism. Could artistic pursuits really contribute to a student's future in the same way as academic achievement? But as the festival unfolded, I began to see a transformation—not just in my students, but in myself.
Kalai Thiruvizha celebrates Tamil culture through dance, music and visual arts. At first, it appeared to be just another extracurricular activity, but it revealed something much deeper: the power of holistic development. I witnessed students — especially those considered problematic— redirecting their energy into meaningful expression. Girls once caught for mischief now practised 'parai attam' during lunch breaks. Shy children found their voice in music; aggressive ones found purpose in dance.
One story that will always stay with me is that of a quiet girl from a single-parent household. Her mother worked as a daily wage labourer. Burdened by her circumstances, she often sat silent and withdrawn in class. During Kalai Thiruvizha practice sessions, I noticed her tapping her feet softly to a rhythm. There was a natural grace in her movements that caught my eye. With gentle encouragement, she joined the freestyle dance team. Initially hesitant, she gradually blossomed. Her eyes began to reflect confidence, her body language transformed.
These experiences taught me that students are not mere vessels for academic instruction. They are individuals carrying unseen burdens. Art gave them a space to process their emotions, express their inner worlds, and find healing. More than just creative outlets, these performances became lifelines — building confidence, teamwork, and discipline.
As a teacher, this journey forced me to reassess my assumptions. I had been addressing only part of my students' needs by focusing exclusively on academics. Kalai Thiruvizha revealed that arts are not a distraction but an essential component of education. They foster emotional resilience, cultural connection and a sense of community.
The transformation was not limited to students. It changed me. I came to understand that teaching is not just about results and scores. It's about seeing the whole child—acknowledging their emotional, social, and creative dimensions. Arts and education are not opposing forces. Instead, they are partners in shaping well-rounded individuals.
To my fellow educators: embracing the arts in education is not about compromising academic standards. It is about enriching our students' lives and offering them the tools to heal, connect and thrive. The transformation I witnessed was real, powerful and lasting.
In this balance of creativity and knowledge lies the true essence of education. Through festivals such as Kalai Thiruvizha, we are not just teaching — we are building resilient, confident, culturally rooted individuals ready to face the world.
(Amudha is a teacher at Government Model Presidency Girls Higher Secondary School on Gengu Reddy Road in Egmore)

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Kanchi Acharya releases Tamil translation of books published by The Hindu Group on Mahaswamigal
Kanchi Acharya releases Tamil translation of books published by The Hindu Group on Mahaswamigal

The Hindu

time3 hours ago

  • The Hindu

Kanchi Acharya releases Tamil translation of books published by The Hindu Group on Mahaswamigal

The pontiff of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, Sri Shankara Vijayendra Saraswati Shankaracharya, on Tuesday released the Tamil translations of two volumes of the book published by The Hindu Group titled, 'Embodiment of Truth - Kanchi Mahaswami' (Unmayin Avatharam - Kanchi Mahaswami), at the Kanchi Mutt's branch in Tirupati. He appreciated The Hindu Group for its role in bringing the teachings and discourses of the 68th pontiff of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati Shankaracharya Mahaswamigal, to the public. He said the two volumes were published in English earlier, and based on requests from devotees, the Tamil version had been published. The Shankaracharya said the book detailed Mahaswamigal's life, spiritual journeys, public discourses, teachings, and the widespread reception he received, which were compiled from news reports and photographs published in The Hindu. It also includes his personal experiences with Mahaswamigal, the Shankaracharya said. Close relationship Further, the Shankaracharya highlighted the close relationship between the Kanchi Mutt and The Hindu Group, recalling Mahaswamigal's visit to The Hindu office. The first and second copies of the books were received by Prof. Devanathachariar of the National Sanskrit University, Tirupati, and P. Vaidyanathan, Chairman, Integrated Enterprises, respectively. Prior to the release, special rituals were held at the Kamakshi Amman temple in Kancheepuram and Mahaswamigal's Adhishtanam at Kanchi Mutt. The price of the two volumes is ₹799. As a limited period launch offer, the two volumes are priced at ₹599. Readers can get the copies by visiting The Hindu bookstore website:

Maximum UG seats filled in first-round counselling at Govt. Arts and Science college in Coimbatore
Maximum UG seats filled in first-round counselling at Govt. Arts and Science college in Coimbatore

The Hindu

time6 hours ago

  • The Hindu

Maximum UG seats filled in first-round counselling at Govt. Arts and Science college in Coimbatore

: Most of the seats for undergraduate programmes in the Government Arts and Science College (Autonomous), Coimbatore, were filled in the first round of counselling. As on Wednesday, 1,405 seats out of 1,727 were filled. All seats in Computer Science, Information Technology and Psychology have been filled, and only limited vacancies are available in all other science courses, college sources said. Admission for 322 vacancies that remain to be filled will be carried out on Friday, under Phase III of the first round of counselling. The college has informed that vacancies in arts and commerce courses will be filled only with students who had taken up vocational group in Plus Two. In Phase II schedule of admission counselling that began at the start of this week, the cut-off marks fixed by all departments, except English and Tamil, were 270 to 299 on Monday, and 240 to 269 marks on Tuesday. On Wednesday, the admission was carried out for BC and MBC candidates, with cut-off marks of 55 to 74 for Tamil and 50 to 59 for English. Likewise, in the Government Arts and Science College for Women at Puliakulam in the city, only top-scorers among the applicants could find themselves in the reckoning for admission. For instance, top-ranked candidate for Computer Science Shift-I had an aggregate score of 390. There were as many as 2,087 applicants for an intake of 50 seats. For Shift-II, the top-scorer had an aggregate of 385 marks. There were a total of 889 applicants. For Shift-I, the other course in demand, the top-scorer had an aggregate of 394 marks. The aggregate was 391 marks by the top-scorer in Shift-II.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store