Pushpalata Educational Center
Pushpalata Educational Center aims to provide a holistic education through many spheres. We specialise in the finest form of education and have continued this legacy consistently and without altering from our core foundation. Since 1986, our greatest strength comes from the relationship nurtured between the various communities where we instil a sense of belonging. Tirunelveli’s proudest parents have been part of our family and continue to trust in our way of teaching.
Sri Palai Shanmugam
Founder, Pushpalata Educational Center
Sri Palai Shanmugam, an eminent Lawyer, Educationist, Social Activist and Freedom Fighter was born in February 1917. He completed his Masters in Law from the Madras Law College and started his practice at Palayamkottai Court, in Tirunelveli District. He specialised in Criminal law and became a leading Criminal Lawyer within a short span of time. He later continued his practice at the Madras High Court.
There was another dimension to his personality which can be termed as an engrossment in fine arts. He was a Film Maker and he produced 2 Feature Films and Documentaries in Tamil. The feature film “Ezhavathu Manidhan” won the National Award for the “Best Tamil Feature Film” in the year 1983 from the President of India.
Sri Palai Shanmugum attributed his success to hard work and discipline and he practiced what he preached. He was a social reformer, activist and raised his voice against many social issues that justice prevailed. He believed in the principle of egalitarianism and was against discrimination in society on any basis, whatsoever.
He was a brilliant orator and presided over many public meetings which drew a large audience and many attended gatherings, just to listen to his stirring speeches. He created awareness about social inequalities and supported the cause of the under-privileged.
His crowning contribution to society was the result of his passion to educate children and inculcate in them discipline, social responsibility, compassion and concern for the environment. Thus, was born the Pushpalata Educational Center, a highly acclaimed non-profit institution, in the year 1986, with a vision to provide holistic education, academics being in tandem with co-scholastic activities such as Fine Arts, Sports and Skill Development. The school had an extensive library with 15,000 books of various genres right from the day of its inception. He inspired children to be readers and book lovers and initiated Reading Clubs.
He organised cultural programmes such as classical dances, vocal & instrumental concerts by inviting eminent artistes like Mrs. Chitra Visveswaran and Mr. Yesudhas, for performances in Tirunelveli to imbibe appreciation of tradition and culture in the young minds and to give an opportunity to the residents of Tirunelveli to experience such amazing concerts.
Dr. MARAGATHAVALLI
Dr. Maragathavalli
Chairman, Pushpalata Educational Centre
Dr. Maragathavalli, a renowned Gynaecologist and Obstetrician, was born on 14th March 1938. She graduated from the prestigious Madras Medical College and later completed Post Graduate Diploma in Gynaecology and Obstetrics (DGO) from Madurai Medical College. She went on to acquire her Doctorate of Medicine (MD) from Madurai Medical College.
Dr. Maragathavalli initially worked as an Assistant Professor (Department of OG) at the Tirunelveli Medical College from 1968 to 1972. Later, she started her private practice from the year 1973.
For well over ten years, she was instrumental in organizing Medical Meetings for lay people where eminent Medical Professionals from all over Tamil Nadu participated and disseminated valuable information on Medical Science.
Dr. Maragathavalli, is one of those rare professionals whose mantra was “Service to society” and this trait of hers won the hearts of her patients and public at large. With the aim of reaching out to people at the grass root levels, she conducted medical camps in villages. She is a dedicated doctor and at the same time extremely simple and down–to-earth. She is a Health and Fitness enthusiast and always stresses the importance of exercising and maintaining fitness.
Every day is hectic and challenging in the life of a doctor, but Dr. Margathavalli managed her professional life with ease, as her personal life is tempered with Yoga and Meditation. She is tremendously fond of travelling and has travelled widely across India and the rest of the world.
She believes that the age is just a number and one should work as long as one is fit and has the desire to make a difference in others’ lives. This is the key to her successful career and yeoman service to society.
MR. V.BALASUBRAMANIAM
Mr. V. Balasubramaniam
Director, Pushpalata Educational Centre
Mr. V. Balasubramaniam, a renowned Educationist and a practicing Advocate was born on 12th May 1942 at Aruppukottai, Virudhunagar District, Tamil Nadu.
Mr. V. Balasubramaniam holds Masters in Tamil, History and Education. He also graduated in Law, and has Diplomas in Rural Services, Astrology, Epigraphy and Geography.
He worked as a teacher for 37 years teaching subjects like English, History, Geography and Tamil for the Higher Secondary and High School students.
As an educationist and historian, he is deeply interested in archaeology, Folklore and Tamil Culture.
He was the forerunner of the “Kezhadi Excavations” a site near Madurai, which proves that the settlement there belonged to a time before 200 BCE. He authored the book “Keezhadi Agalaaivu – Oru Varalartrup paarvai” in the year 2020. Mr. Balasubramaniam has been honoured as one of the top 10 Personalities of the year 2020 by Ananda Vikatan, the famous Tamil Magazine. His first book was Barathidasan Uvamaikal which was written in 1972.
MRS. PUSHPAVENI AYYAPAN
Mrs. Pushpaveni Ayyapan
Senior Principal, Pushpalata Vidya Mandir, Pushpalata Matriculation School and
Pushpalata British International School
Mrs. Pushpaveni Ayyappan is the Senior Principal of the Pushpalata Vidya Mandir, Pushpalata Matriculation School and Pushpalata British International School, which are part of the Pushpalata Educational Centre. She is a dynamic personality, with more than 35 years of experience – 21 years as a teacher and 15 years as an administrator in various institutions. She has been associated with the school since its inception in 1986 and was the founder principal of Pushpalata Matriculation Higher secondary School.
She is an M.A. B. Ed., trained in acclaimed institutions and stands tall as an unparalleled educationist.
She has attended a number of workshops and trainings such as: Preparing Schools for Accreditation, Pedagogy, Teacher Quality and Inclusivity – Implementation Challenges, Early Childhood Education Trends and Challenges, 20th, 21st and 22nd National Annual Conferences of Sahodaya School Complexes, ASL Training Programme, leadership Programme – Reflecting on School-based Assessment, Capacity Building Programmes, Strategic Leadership for Schools in a Challenging Environment by IIM Ahmedabad, British Council – An Introduction to Core-skills for Leaders and ISA – leading the Integration of International Learning In the School– which have helped in the upliftment of the quality of education in the school.
She is a brilliant academician and a perfectionist whose assistance has helped the institution see heights since its inception. Her leadership and strength of character has played an inevitable role in the growth of the school. Under her leadership, the school won the Future 50 Schools Award by Fortune Magazine in the year 2017 and the Global Innovative School Award by BITS Pilani, Dubai Campus in the year 2019. Her contribution in directing the teaching and learning in the school campus is explicitly seen in the outstanding results produced every year. Enthusiasm, discipline and commitment defines Mrs. Pushpaveni Ayyappan.
MRS. PUSHPALATA POORANAN
Mrs. Pushpalata Pooranan
Director and Correspondent, Pushpalata Educational Centre
Mrs. Pushpalata Pooranan was born on 18th July 1974. She did her Masters in Business Administration from PSG College, Coimbatore.
Mrs. Pushpalata Pooranan assumed charge of Pushpalata Matriculation Hr. Sec. School in the year 2003. She flagged off the first Senior Secondary School with CBSE Affiliation, in the Districts of Tirunelveli, Tuticorin and Kanyakumari, in the year 2008 with the inception of The Pushpalata Vidya Mandir. In 2012 Pushpalata British International School, affiliated to Cambridge International Examinations came into existence heralding international standards of education into the town of Tirunelveli.
Her social responsibility, as instilled in her by her parents, became apparent with the launch of “Mitra” – a center for Autism children in the year 2012. Mrs. Pushpalata Pooranan is a very efficient, and a dedicated educationist who has brought Tirunelveli onto the map of Indian school education through many recognitions, awards which the children of the schools and she herself have bagged.
She is always on the look out to updating and equipping herself and has participated in various Leadership and Professional Educational Programs organised by top Institutions across the globe. She participated in the “Leadership” – “An Evolving Vision, Project Zero Classroom, conducted by Havard Graduate School of Education, USA in July 2014 and in July 2017. She has undergone Certification Programs by Cambridge Assessment International Education and participated in many Cambridge Schools Conferences. She is an active participant of the Centre for Development Learning & Technology at the International School of Amsterdam in Netherlands.
Not resting on the platform provided by her father, she continued the journey, giving the children of this town an exposure and opportunities at National and International levels. Most importantly, she makes sure that education at all the 3 schools rest firmly on values of integrity, discipline, responsibility and honesty.
The following were the Awards and recognitions received by Mrs. Pushpalata Pooranan:
1. Vocational Excellence Award by Rotary International.
2. Young Entrepreneur Award by Tata Gold Plus.
3. Vijay TV
4. Stars of PSG – 50 Alumni were awarded, honoring their contribution to a respective field.