Name: Dr. Manjula Pooja Shroff
Age: 54
City: Ahmedabad
Occupation: Edupreneur
ST: Please tell us briefly about you.
Manjula: I was born Manjula
Devi, in a royal family of Orissa, was sent to a reputed convent school for
Education.While my family did give me a good school Education but higher
Education was not something, girls were supposed to get and very much like
other girls, I too was expected to follow the tradition, get married and settle
down in a family life. I had a rebellious streak from childhood and getting
married at a young age was a complete ‘No’ for me. I have seen beautiful,
young, talented girls losing their identity in the rigmarole of a domestic
life. I definitely was not going to be one of them. With the strong desire to
make a difference to the Society at large, I understood at a very young age,
the power that only Education can bring. I decided to light the flame of
Quality Education for as many children as possible and so out of an innate desire
was born an Edupreneur; an entrepreneur in the field of Education.
Devi, in a royal family of Orissa, was sent to a reputed convent school for
Education.While my family did give me a good school Education but higher
Education was not something, girls were supposed to get and very much like
other girls, I too was expected to follow the tradition, get married and settle
down in a family life. I had a rebellious streak from childhood and getting
married at a young age was a complete ‘No’ for me. I have seen beautiful,
young, talented girls losing their identity in the rigmarole of a domestic
life. I definitely was not going to be one of them. With the strong desire to
make a difference to the Society at large, I understood at a very young age,
the power that only Education can bring. I decided to light the flame of
Quality Education for as many children as possible and so out of an innate desire
was born an Edupreneur; an entrepreneur in the field of Education.
I started the first
Delhi Public School in the western zone of India under the aegis of DPS Society
in the year 1996 and there has been no looking back ever since. Today,
DPS-Bopal Ahmedabad is into its 22nd year. With the vision to bring
Education to children of all strata of the Society, we started a school for
Dyslexic students, again a unique project across Gujarat at that point of time.
We started a home for under privileged kids, and it’s my pride to see the
initial batch kids placed in good companies today.
Delhi Public School in the western zone of India under the aegis of DPS Society
in the year 1996 and there has been no looking back ever since. Today,
DPS-Bopal Ahmedabad is into its 22nd year. With the vision to bring
Education to children of all strata of the Society, we started a school for
Dyslexic students, again a unique project across Gujarat at that point of time.
We started a home for under privileged kids, and it’s my pride to see the
initial batch kids placed in good companies today.
Today as an MD &
CEO of Kalorex, I can proudly say that we have nurtured many Glocal (Global +
Local) citizens who are spread all over the World.
CEO of Kalorex, I can proudly say that we have nurtured many Glocal (Global +
Local) citizens who are spread all over the World.
ST: Who is a woman that inspires you the most
and why?
and why?
Manjula: There are a number of women who
have played an inspirational role in my life. My own grandmother for one who
was a very strong and determined lady and was very liberated in her outlook.
Other women who have had an impact on my life are Indira Gandhi,Lady Diana,
Condoleezza Rice, Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton, who by their talent,
perseverance, and wisdomhave proven that women can don multiple hats and and
still be leaders in their own chosen fields and make a difference to the
society.
have played an inspirational role in my life. My own grandmother for one who
was a very strong and determined lady and was very liberated in her outlook.
Other women who have had an impact on my life are Indira Gandhi,Lady Diana,
Condoleezza Rice, Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton, who by their talent,
perseverance, and wisdomhave proven that women can don multiple hats and and
still be leaders in their own chosen fields and make a difference to the
society.
ST: How are you celebrating this year’s
International Women’s Day?
International Women’s Day?
Manjula: Kalorex is an
organization with 70% women employees and on a lighter note we can say that we
celebrate women’s day daily.
organization with 70% women employees and on a lighter note we can say that we
celebrate women’s day daily.
In most of the
societies all over the World, it’s primarily the women who are the home
makers. Childbearing is God’s gift to
every woman and more or less child-rearing also becomes her major
responsibility. Along with that the opportunity to work in a chosen field has
led the “Lady of the House” to become a “Career woman”. The whole process of
balancing home and work makes us compromise on our health. Believe me it’s just
a matter of incorporating a little discipline towards exercise in our daily
routine. I feel very strongly about living a healthy life and whichever part of
the world I am, I incorporate about 60 minutes of any form of exercise. My
favourite being cycling. To sensitize women towards a healthy lifestyle on this
International Women’s Day, we are organizing a Cyclothon over that weekend.
societies all over the World, it’s primarily the women who are the home
makers. Childbearing is God’s gift to
every woman and more or less child-rearing also becomes her major
responsibility. Along with that the opportunity to work in a chosen field has
led the “Lady of the House” to become a “Career woman”. The whole process of
balancing home and work makes us compromise on our health. Believe me it’s just
a matter of incorporating a little discipline towards exercise in our daily
routine. I feel very strongly about living a healthy life and whichever part of
the world I am, I incorporate about 60 minutes of any form of exercise. My
favourite being cycling. To sensitize women towards a healthy lifestyle on this
International Women’s Day, we are organizing a Cyclothon over that weekend.
ST: What is the most important message you want
to send out to all the women around the world on this occasion?
to send out to all the women around the world on this occasion?
Manjula: In every woman lies
the potential to realise her dreams. So, dare to dream and be passionate about
turning that dream into a reality.
the potential to realise her dreams. So, dare to dream and be passionate about
turning that dream into a reality.
ST: What according to you is ‘women
empowerment’?
empowerment’?
Manjula: Women empowerment is
a much hyped word in today’s time and different people interpret it in
different way. For me Education is the real ‘women empowerment’. Like Brigham
Young said “You educate a man; you educate a
man. You educate a woman; you educate a generation”.
a much hyped word in today’s time and different people interpret it in
different way. For me Education is the real ‘women empowerment’. Like Brigham
Young said “You educate a man; you educate a
man. You educate a woman; you educate a generation”.
ST: What would you say are the main challenges
facing women at present in India?
facing women at present in India?
Manjula: The economic
diversity in India has lead to a major diversity in the mentalities and
mind-sets of the Indian people. Though women are becoming more and more aware
of their potentials and capabilities, they are unable to break free from the
parochial attitudes. Even with efforts being made towards upliftment of women,
the infrastructure and facilities in India are still far from being women
friendly. The main challenge faced by Indian women is for their own safety and
security.
diversity in India has lead to a major diversity in the mentalities and
mind-sets of the Indian people. Though women are becoming more and more aware
of their potentials and capabilities, they are unable to break free from the
parochial attitudes. Even with efforts being made towards upliftment of women,
the infrastructure and facilities in India are still far from being women
friendly. The main challenge faced by Indian women is for their own safety and
security.
ST: Where do you want to see yourself in next 5
years?
years?
Manjula: Kalorex has been
expanding its operations consistently over the past 2 decades. We have grown
from 12 to 40+ institutes in the past five years itself. We have plans for
expansion of our Pre- School and K-12 models across the country and in the UAE
in the coming years and hope to see the Kalorex banner flying in most states.
expanding its operations consistently over the past 2 decades. We have grown
from 12 to 40+ institutes in the past five years itself. We have plans for
expansion of our Pre- School and K-12 models across the country and in the UAE
in the coming years and hope to see the Kalorex banner flying in most states.
 |
| Dr. Manjula Pooja Shroff, MD & CEO, Kalorex Group |
