Let's Talk Education

When is the 'right time' to start addressing gender in the classroom? What does gender sensitization in deeply patriarchal school environments actually look like? Why is it critical to center male students in our gender activism as educators? 

This episode is in conversation with Devika Anand, a Teach For India Alumnx who spearheads GenderBenders - an initiative that centers around gender sensitization for secondary students in Delhi.  

Together,  we explore what ‘feminism is for everybody’ really looks like in action and bust myths around the when, how and what of gender sensitization in the classroom. 

What does a female student do when asked to choose between her religious practice and her education? 

This episode is in conversation with Maryam Siddiqui, an Architecture student based in New Delhi who has been relentlessly vocal about the Karnataka Hijab Row which began in January 2022. 

Together, we discuss the implications of the Hijab Row on female education in India and  reflect on what solidarity and allyship can look like in action. 

 Riju Banerjee is a passionate gender and sexuality activist and queer educator. 

In our episode together we unpack Riju’s experience teaching in a low-income school in Govandi where she attempted to build an inclusive and affirming classroom as she navigated her own gender identity and queerness. 

This episode is an invitation to all educators to move beyond the gender binary in their pedagogy and reflect on what it takes to build LGBTQ+ affirming classrooms and school spaces. 

Why do girls continue to struggle in STEM subjects? Why are boys not included in conversations around menstrual health? Are educational outcomes sufficient indicators of progress in gender equality?

In this episode we converse with scholar and gender activist, Mona Yadav, about  gendered realities in schools and classrooms, and we begin to reimagine what education could look like in India from an intersectional gender lens. 

What has been the history of caste in the Indian education system? Why is it imperative that caste is taught in every classroom? What does a caste curriculum look like in action?

In this episode we converse with the co-founders of Project Samathuvam, Adithyan and Meera, about why they are committed to teaching caste in the classroom.  

How do caste hierarchies manifest in the classroom? What are the dangers of a banking model of education? How do we, as educators, transform ourselves into anti-caste practitioners?

In this episode we converse with  Charu, a resistance writer, spoken word artist, educator and an anti-caste activist,  to dissect the nuances of caste in the Indian education system. 

What does it really mean to be an inclusive educator?  How do we move beyond limiting conceptions of ability and disability? What are the first steps to building an inclusive classroom?

In this episode we converse with Mahima Bhalla, a Special Education teacher and Inclusive Education advocate, to expand and deepen our understanding of disability inclusion, and confront our own biases as educators working with students with diverse needs and abilities.

Check out Mahima's Inclusive Education platform @valu.ed and write to us with any thoughts/questions you may have at @letstalkedu

What does it mean to be a socially conscious educator today? How does power and positionality play out in the classroom? How can we build a more just and empowering education system for individuals from marginalized communities?

In this episode we converse with Sayan Chaudhuri, an educator and member of Aaina - a digital education initiative - to expand and deepen our understanding of education, justice and community.

Make sure to check out Aaina on Instagram (@aaina_edu) and write to us with any thoughts/questions you may have at @letstalkedu

Welcome to Let's Talk Education: a deep dive into the muddy waters of being an educator in 21st century India. Teach for India fellow, Nandini Kochar, will be in conversation with educators, activists and artists to explore questions of caste, gender, sex education and so much more. 

Check out our trailer and see what we have in store.