Sri Venugopalan, Dance and Music Teacher, SEED School
I am Sri Venugopalan, a dance and music teacher. My life does not belong to me alone – it belongs to the children I have taught and continue to teach.
In 1980, I stepped into the world of music and dance education. After completing my studies at Swathi Thirunal Music Colege, many paths lay open before me. But I chose a different one – a life of teaching alongside children with special abilities. For the past 24 years, I have been living and working with these children. Teaching them dance and music is not just a job; it is the very meaning of my life.
My goal is to discover the artistic talents hidden within them, nurture those talents, and build their self-confidence. In the beginning, many people viewed these children’s abilities with doubt. But what I saw in them was not their limitations – it was their potential. That is why I trained them and brought them onto stages. Today, they have participated in many competitions and achieved success. One of the proudest moments of my life was when my students performed at the Republic Day event in New Delhi and won second place. Now, I continue this journey with the institution “The Seed.” Here, I am not just a teacher – I am a companion, a guide, and sometimes even a family member to these children.
It is my love for these children and my belief in their abilities that has kept me on this path al these years. When I see them move forward, when I see confidence shining in their eyes, I realize that my life is on the right path. I cannot measure how much I have been able to contribute to their lives. But one thing I can say with certainty – they have made me a better human being.
In the days to come, my goal remains the same: to discover their talents and help them move forward. To be with them – that is my greatest joy.