We have a new principal
A Leader to Transform and Nurture a Community
by Principal Sudarsana Kumar Madathil and Humaira Farheen
Children welcome Principal Sudarsana Kumar Madathil to the Jhamtse Gatsal Children’s Community. Mr. Sudarsana joined us as Principal in early 2023.
Over the years, the understanding of education has evolved at Jhamtse Gatsal into an approach that nurtures every child like a seed. By educating each child’s heart, mind, and body, we aim to help them become the best versions of themselves and achieve their fullest potential.
To reinforce our efforts, we decided to hire a principal for our academic wing in late 2019. However, the pandemic impeded the pursuit of the right candidate, and we resumed the search with full fervor in 2022. With the experienced guidance of our educational advisors—Michelle Du Bois and Sandy Crawford—our founder, Gen Lobsang Phuntsok la, as well as Ajay Singh and Ragini Singh, experts in the field of recruitment, we found our ideal Principal in Mr. Sudarsana Kumar Madathil. He displayed a combination of compassion, pedagogical knowledge, and leadership, which we felt would serve as an inspiring and motivating factor for the Jhamtse community.
Mr. Sudarsana joined us as a full-time Principal in early 2023. Six months into his journey at Jhamtse Gatsal, he shares with enthusiasm, “I am striving to create better human beings at Jhamtse Gatsal who will further replicate the practices at Jhamtse to keep the circle of learning growing forever.”
Speaking of the ideal traits of a teacher, Mr. Sudarsana lists being fair, open-minded, and glorifying the profession as the most important. He shares,
“A fair teacher looks at things objectively, treats everyone equally, makes students feel valued in the classroom, and wins their trust. However, there have been many instances of teachers favoring some students and treating others unfairly. Showing partiality or favoritism to some students is an ignoble characteristic. Such actions and ignoble traits made me realize that educating educators was the need of the hour.”
He recalls the earlier years of his life when his mother, a veteran teacher, was visited by numerous friends and students during her time of illness.
“At that moment, I tried to recall a teacher whom I remembered with appreciation and to list the things that made the person so memorable to me. A long list of questions came to my mind in order to recall that special one in my life. Without a doubt, I realized it was my mom—my first ever teacher—who was followed by a great many leaders.”
Since then, Mr. Sudarsana has strived to rebuild teaching as the noble profession it should be. He feels it is essential to rebuild the culture of unprejudiced, open-minded, lifelong learning among educators to exemplify the same to children.
Mr. Sudarsana talks about his connection with Jhamtse Gatsal:
“I wished to be a great human being like my mother, whose real wealth was her well-wishers and followers. So, I updated my wish in my physical mind and digital persona, bringing Jhamtse Gatsal into my conscious realm. When I was introduced to Jhamtse Gatsal, I realized that my wish was in synchronicity with their mission and vision. Meeting the Managing Director, Ms. Vasudha Wanchoo, followed by a talk with the respected founder, Genla Lobsang Phuntsok, made me fall in love with the journey of Jhamtse Gatsal and the innocent children whom I found there.