Dr. Ramya Devarajan: Teaching with Chalk, Rhythm, and Heart

“Let your scars be your syllabus — teach the world with what you’ve survived.”

These are the words Dr. Ramya Devarajan lives by, and they reflect the essence of her extraordinary journey as an educator, artist, and social changemaker.

From Dance Floors to Classrooms — Finding Purpose Early

As the Primary Coordinator and Head of Department at Hithashaala School, founder of Kalodaya Dance Institute, honorary doctorate awardee, scribe, motivational speaker, and cultural curator, Dr. Ramya Devarajan wears many hats — all stitched with compassion and purpose.

“Education should be joyful, not judgmental,” she says, recalling how, even as a child, she admired the quiet power of teachers to transform lives with a simple smile. Her years as a classical dancer — over three decades of performances and training — naturally blended with her calling as an educator. Whether choreographing an intricate Bharatanatyam piece or guiding young students through academics, she learned to view both art and education as ways to shape confident, compassionate human beings.

Lessons in Strength — Family, Mentors, and Unseen Battles

Dr. Ramya Devarajan credits her parents as her earliest teachers. “My father’s humility and consistency and my mother’s strength of compassion taught me everything I value today,” she shares. What began as teaching dance soon expanded into academic leadership and social service. A turning point came while serving as a scribe for visually impaired students — writing over twenty exams on their behalf. “One student held my hand after an exam and said, ‘Today I didn’t feel blind. You made me feel powerful.’ That moment changed my life,” she says.

The world didn’t always recognize her multifaceted potential. “You’re just a dance teacher,” she was told. “You don’t look like a school leader.” Rather than letting these judgments define her, she used them as fuel to prove that excellence is not limited by labels.

Achievements Rooted in Impact, Not Titles

Dr. Ramya Devarajan work has earned her accolades including:

• Honarary Doctorate in Education, Social science and Science (2024)

• Indian Iconic Woman of the Year (2025)

• South India Excellence Award (2024)

• Salute Achievers Award (2025)

• She Magazine Women Influencer (2025)

But she insists that her greatest reward is simpler: “A child once told me, ‘Ma’am, because of you, I want to become a teacher.’ That will always be bigger than any trophy.”

Her initiatives have redefined education for many — from inclusive classrooms that integrate differently abled children, to mentoring girls who doubted themselves into becoming school toppers. She introduced the first-of-its-kind scribe training workshops in her school, teaching students to practice empathy as a life skill.

Challenges that Built Character

Despite the recognition, Dr. Ramya Devarajan has faced her share of obstacles — juggling her love for dance, her commitment to education, and her deep involvement in social service. Systemic gaps in accessibility became personal to her as she worked closely with underprivileged and visually challenged students. Instead of being discouraged, she sponsored aids, trained volunteers, and built networks to bring resources directly to those who needed them.

Her guiding principles — Compassion with Action, Excellence over Perfection, and Gratitude Always — have kept her anchored through every challenge.

A Day in Her Life — And the Secret to Balance

How does she balance being an educator, leader, dancer, and mother? “Balance isn’t about dividing time equally; it’s about being fully present where you are,” she says. With a strong family support system — her husband, her son (a NEET aspirant and talented drummer), and her sisters — she treats her school like her extended family. Dance, she says, is her “prayer, therapy, and reset button.”

Projects with a Purpose

Currently, Dr. Ramya Devarajan is:

• Leading a Community Wellness Program integrating dance, environmental awareness, and cultural revival.

• Designing an Empathy Curriculum that teaches life skills, scribe training, and value-based education.

• Mentoring students and teachers under her Blue Stars Initiative, combining talent-building with compassion.

• Writing a motivational book, “Chalk Dust and Stethoscopes,” that intertwines her educational journey with her son’s dream of becoming a doctor.

• Publishing research on innovative learning in multilingual classrooms to help educators across India.

Dreams for Tomorrow

Looking ahead, Dr. Ramya Devarajan hopes to establish an Inclusive Learning Academy for children with learning disabilities and unique talents. She also plans to take Indian classical dance to orphanages and rural schools as a form of healing and identity-building, while representing India at global education forums. Her vision includes training 100+ scribes in every school she mentors — ensuring empathy becomes part of every student’s academic experience.

Advice for Young Women

“Never let titles define you,” she says firmly. “Whether you are called a housewife, a helper, a dancer, or a doctor — wear every role with dignity. Don’t wait to be chosen. Create your stage, write your speech, and clap for yourself. Be bold, be kind, be unapologetically you.”

Dr. Ramya Devarajan’s life is proof that when passion meets purpose, titles become irrelevant and impact becomes everything. Her story shows that education, like dance, is not about flawless steps — it’s about creating rhythm, meaning, and joy in every move.