What do we really mean when we talk about value education? Is it a subject taught through textbooks and moral science periods, or is it something that lives in the everyday culture of classrooms, institutions, and communities?

In this episode of The Chalk Talk Collective Podcast, host Lakshmi Karunakaran is joined by Asim Siddiqui, faculty member at Azim Premji University, for a thoughtful conversation on value education in contemporary learning spaces.

Recorded at Visthar — a civil society organization committed to social justice and peace — this episode carries not just rich ideas, but also the gentle soundscape of birds and quiet conversation from one of North Bangalore’s calmest corners.

Together, Lakshmi and Asim explore the history and structures of value education, the role of constitutional values in shaping democratic learning spaces, and the challenges and possibilities of engaging children and youth in conversations around empathy, justice, critical thinking, and compassion.

The Chalk Talk Collective Podcast is brought to you by Teacher Plus magazine — a unique magazine for contemporary teachers in India. Visit www.teacherplus.org to access articles and other useful resources for educators and teachers.

The episode also examines:

• How value education has evolved within Indian education systems

• The difference between teaching values and creating value-based learning environments

• Practical approaches educators can use with children and young people

• How constitutional values can become lived experiences rather than abstract ideas

Whether you are a teacher, educator, parent, school leader, or someone thinking deeply about education and society, this conversation offers both reflection and practical insight into nurturing more humane and thoughtful learning spaces.

About the Speakers

Lakshmi Karunakaran (Host)

An art educator and development professional with over 20 years of experience, Lakshmi works as an independent consultant across education, children’s literature, and library initiatives. Previously, she headed the Parag Initiative of Tata Trusts. She currently is the Lead for the Harsha Parekh Library Awards instituted by the HT Parekh Foundation and collaborates with Eklavya’s publication programme.

Asim Siddiqui (Guest)

Asim specializes in Philosophy and Development Studies. His work focuses on humanizing access to education and health to strengthen democracy and build a compassionate society. He also collaborates with youth-focused organizations across India, facilitating workshops on critical thinking, emotional capacity-building, and social justice.

Who This Episode Is For

• Teachers and educators

• School leaders and administrators

• Librarians and literacy practitioners

• Organizations working in education and reading initiatives
  

What if the secret to building lifelong readers isn’t a grand school library—but a small, thoughtfully curated shelf within the classroom?

In this inaugural episode of The Chalk Talk Collective Podcast, host Lakshmi Karunakaran is joined by Thejaswi Shivanand, library educator at Champaca Children’s Library. Together, they explore what makes classroom libraries powerful, practical, and transformative—especially in resource-constrained school settings.

From defining what a classroom library truly is to examining how it differs from traditional school libraries, this conversation offers grounded, experience-driven insights for educators, school leaders, and anyone invested in nurturing a culture of reading.

The Chalk Talk Collective Podcast is brought to you by Teacher Plus magazine.

What You’ll Learn

• What defines a classroom library—and why it’s more than just a collection of books

• Key differences between classroom libraries and traditional school libraries

• How purpose shapes usage, access, and impact

• Practical factors to consider when curating a classroom library

• How teachers can build and sustain libraries with limited resources

• Ways schools can meaningfully support teachers in this journey

Key Takeaways

• A classroom library is defined by access, ownership, and daily engagement, not size

• Proximity matters—children read more when books are within arm’s reach

• Effective curation reflects diversity, reading levels, and student choice

• Even small, low-cost libraries can be powerful when they are actively used

• Teacher ownership, supported by the school, is key to sustaining classroom libraries and building a reading culture

Resources Mentioned

• The Nature Society Series by Eklavya

• Divaswapna by Gijubhai Badheka

About the Speakers:

Lakshmi Karunakaran (Host)

An art educator and development professional with over 20 years of experience, Lakshmi works as an independent consultant across education, children’s literature, and library initiatives. She is the Lead for the Harsha Parekh Library Awards instituted by the HT Parekh Foundation and collaborates with Eklavya’s publication programme.

Thejaswi Shivanand (Guest)

A library educator at Champaca Children’s Library, Thejaswi works with schools and library-focused organizations across India, supporting the development of vibrant reading communities and professional learning spaces.

Who This Episode Is For

• Teachers and educators

• School leaders and administrators

• Librarians and literacy practitioners

• Organizations working in education and reading initiatives