TEACHERS   Teachers are the greatest assets of the Centre. Through them, you learn not only a subject, but also about Indian culture.   They are all professional Indian artists and most of them also have some sort of other occupations. Hence, our class times might vary according to their convenience.   However there are alternative teachers for all the subjects through whom, we ensure you do not miss your lessons.   We are proud of our faculty members who have played a prominent role, and continue to do so, in the growth of the centre since 1977.   Here are our main teachers   Kathakali: Mr. Kalamandalam Keshavan Namboodiri, Mr. Kalamandalam Pradeep Kumar        Keshavan Namboodiri is one of the prominent artists in the Kathakali field and has more than 25 years of teaching experience. Also has toured more than 20 countries in Asia and Europe performing Kathakali.   Mohiniattam and Bharatanatyam: Ms. Dhanya, Ms. Padma Priya, Mrs. Sujatha        All the above teachers are young and very very kind and active in their lessons. They are very proficient in Bharatanatyam, Mohiniattam and Kuchuppudi dances. They all have been teaching in the centre since their graduation.   Karnatic Music: Mr. Santhosh Edathua        A renowned young classical vocalist in the Central Travancore region, with more than 18 years of experience in Karnatic music. He is also a famous music composer having composed for few devotional albums and dramas.   Wood Carving: Mr. Shajimon M.P        Shajimon hails from a family of sculptors and learned the art from his father. He is a very pleasing person and is teaching in the centre for the past 10 years.   Mural Painting: Mr. Anil V.        He is an excellent young artist and is already noted for his works. He also is proficient in oil painting techniques. He is very special with his patient simple methods and humility   Kalaripayatt: Mr. Athajan (Unni)        Athajan, Called as Unni in the centre, learned from the CVN kalari Trivandrum and practices the same style in the centre also.   Tabla: Mr. A.G. Shanavaz        He has been teaching in the centre for the last 20 years and a very special member of our Centre. He is also an elected representative in the nearby Chengannur Muncipality.   Tabla: Mr. Ashok Kumar Chengannur        He hails from a family of artists and still continues the tradition. Also plays for the Sarang orchestra in Pathanamthitta. His wife Mrs. Radhamani also teaches Painting for local students in the centre.   Maddalam: Sri. Kurichi Balakrishnan Nair        Balettan, as he is known, is one of the most experienced performer in Maddalam. Has been teaching in the centre since its inception.   Hindi/Malayalam: Mrs. Nisha, Mrs.Shubhamol        Nisha is a Keralite born and bought up in Mumbai and is a graduate in Hindi, teaching is a passion for her. Mrs. Subhamol is a fresh Young post graduate and was a first rank holder from the Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam and is also currently doing her PhD.   Sanskrit: Mr. Jayanth        Jayanth has an M.Phil degree in Sanskrit from University of Madras and is may be the best Sanskrit teacher with excellent command in English too.   Kolams: Mrs. Thankammal Malakkara        Ammalu, as she is called in the centre is also a special teacher. She hails from a Tamil brahmin family. Tamil Brahmins are the masters in the art of kolam.   Kathakali - Chutty: Sri. Kalanilayam Saji        Known as a young legend in the art of Chutty (the making of the special white border in the kathakali make-up), he is nowadays the "preferred chutty-man" by the leading Kathakali dancers.      He also maintains and renovates our Kathakali costumes.   Yoga: Sri. Swami Brahmanand alias Saji Ramaswamy        Swamy, as he is often called, is much more than an excellent teacher in Yoga.He has mastered various styles of Hatha Yoga from many schools in India, but also has learned quite few styles of Yoga from the small Ashrams in Himalayas, which is his plus point. But he follows his own style and depends completely on the ancient yoga text books. His enthusiasm and ability was instrumental in prompting us to begin the one month long, Intense course on Hatha Yoga.   Cooking: Mrs. Sreelatha        Mrs. Sreelatha is a typical Kerala house wife, is also a teacher in Mathematics for local children.   Ayurveda: Sri. Dr. B. Harikumar B A M S        Dr. Hari is young but very knowledgeable and bright doctor and is only happy to share his knowledge which goes far beyond Ayurveda. He has designed our course and is an excellent promoter of this ancient science. Dr. Hari is the medical superintendent in the NSS Ayurveda hospitals in Vallamkulam and Aranmula.   Besides the other assistant teachers, eminent scholars like Mangombu Shiva Sankara Pillai (Kathakali), Kavalam Narayana Panicker, Dr. P. Sankaran Nair B A M, D(Ay).M (founder Principal Coimbatore Ayu. College), Sri. Ambalappuzha Parameshvara Kurup (Kerala Sangeeta Nataka Academy Fellowship winner in Kalamezhuthu Pattu), Acharya Narendra Bushan, Sri Suresh Muthukulam also visits the Centre occasionally, giving lectures and demonstrations     Note: Though the above are our main teachers, due to their occasional inconveniences we might be forced to use different teachers.

 

VIJNANA KALA VEDI CULTURAL CENTRE - A traditional school for Kathakali, Mohiniattam, Bharatanatyam, Karnatic Music, Tabla, Maddalam, Hatha Yoga, Mural Painting, Wood Carving, Cooking, Kolam, Kalarippayatt.A Language school for the learning of Sanskrit, Hindi and Malayalam. A Centre for volunteers to Teach English in India.