Off Syllabus

What do fairness, courage and justice actually look like from a child's eyes? Senior Advocate Sajan Poovayya has spent his career inside courtrooms, but in this episode, he brings that same rigour to the questions parents wrestle with at home. Why disagreement, not obedience, is where empathy begins. Why children absorb dignity from how we treat the person serving us tea, not from what we tell...

What if the most important thing you could give your child isn't discipline, but the right to disagree with you? Senior Advocate Sajan Poovayya joins Off Syllabus to unpack where empathy really begins, why courage can't be lectured into a child, and why kids forgive almost everything except hypocrisy. A conversation every parent will recognise themselves in. Off Syllabus, a podcast by The...

Five-time Olympian. Ten-time national champion. Padma Shri. Khel Ratna. India's most decorated table tennis player. And for 18 months somewhere in the middle of all that — a railway ticket collector at Madras station. This is the Sharath Kamal conversation you haven't heard before. Not the medal count, not the career highlights — but the real architecture of what it takes to build somethin...

We are raising children in a world designed to capture their attention, fragment their focus, and reward impulsive behaviour. And most of us are doing it without a manual. Dr. Pratima Murthy — former Director of NIMHANS, addiction psychiatrist, and one of India's most respected voices in mental health — joins Off Syllabus for a conversation that is equal parts science, wisdom, and honest reckoning...

In a world that is moving faster than most of us can process, are our children getting the emotional support they actually need? Dr. Pratima Murthy — former Director of NIMHANS and a leading voice in addiction psychiatry with over three decades of experience — joins Off Syllabus for a wide-ranging conversation on modern childhood, mental health, and what parents are getting right and wrong. She ta...

When Nisha Lobo was four years old, a woman at a shopping mall spat on her and told her mother she shouldn't bring a child "like that" out in public. Nisha's response, sitting in the car afterwards while her mother cried: "Mama, what she did is her problem, not mine." Nobody taught her that. It was just how she saw it. Nisha was born with lamellar ichthyosis — a rare ge...

What does it look like when a child grows up never seeing herself as a victim — even when the world occasionally treats her like one? Ms. Nisha Lobo was born with lamellar ichthyosis, a rare genetic skin condition, and has about 10% vision in one eye. She is also a TEDx speaker, a Vicks Touch of Care film subject seen internationally, and today, a full-time professional who goes to work in a cab a...

In this episode, we welcome Ms. Swetha Subbiah, a Coorg-born athlete and co-founder of Sisters in Sweat, to discuss the vital role of sports in a girl's upbringing. Swetha joins our host to explore how we can stop the "teenage drop-off" and encourage girls to occupy space rather than shrink away from it. What’s "Off Syllabus" in this conversation: Role Models at Home: The p...

Can a sport-filled childhood actually be the secret ingredient to academic success? In this episode of Off Syllabus, we explore the intersection of physical strength and mental resilience with one of India’s most influential fitness leaders, Ms. Swetha Subbiah. As the co-founder of Sisters in Sweat and a Nike-certified coach, Ms. Swetha joins us to unpack why teenage girls often drop out of physic...

Can ancient philosophy solve modern-day anxiety? In this episode of Off Syllabus , we talk to Roopa Pai , the author who made the Bhagavad Gita accessible to a whole new generation. We dive into the "Hero’s Journey," exploring how parents can help children move away from the toxic trap of comparison and toward a life of purpose and Dharma . From the power of storytelling to the secrets o...

"Success and failure are both impostors. Focus on the effort, not the outcome." 🌿 In Episode 6 of Off Syllabus , we dive deep with celebrated author Ms. Roopa Pai on a mission to make ancient wisdom accessible for the modern child. From the corridors of history to the high-pressure world of 10th-grade exams, Roopa explains how the teachings of the Gita can help our children live without...

Your child's music class might be doing more for their math grade than their math class is. In this episode of Off Syllabus, host Ms. Jeevitha Viswanath sits down with Manasi Prasad — Carnatic vocalist, IIM Bangalore alumna, former Director of India's first interactive music museum (Indian Music Experience), NCERT textbook committee member, and most importantly, a parent of two school-goin...

Why Arts Education Isn't an "Extra" | Off Syllabus Ep. 5Is your child’s passion for the arts being treated as a hobby or a core skill? In this episode of Off Syllabus, we sit down with Ms. Manasi Prasad, renowned Indian Classical Vocalist and Musician, to dismantle the age-old mindset that science and medicine are the only "serious" career paths. We also delve into the Nati...

In a world obsessed with grades and high-stakes exams, where does human connection fit in? Today on Off Syllabus , we explore the shift from academic pressure to emotional intelligence. Guest Mr. Vikram Bhat (Chief Architect of the Delhi Happiness Curriculum) explains how well-being can be taught as systematically as Math. Meanwhile, Mrs. Hansa Vithani (Director, Vidya Niketan School) shares 40+ y...

Does the modern school system prioritise marks over mindset? In this episode of the Off Syllabus podcast, we dive deep into the future of human connection within our education systems. We are joined by Mr. Vikram Bhat , Chief Architect of the groundbreaking Happiness Curriculum in Delhi, and Mrs. Hansa Vithani , Director of Vidya Niketan School , Bengaluru. We explore how schools can move beyond t...

Is your child’s identity being built on "likes" or life experiences? As a parenting podcast that goes beyond the classroom, this episode of Off Syllabus tackles the "Validation Game." We bring together two varied perspectives: Ms. Anoushkaa, a Grade 12 student, and Dr. Beena Roopak, a parent of a teenager and a primary schooler. We explore anxiety in the digital age and how modern friendship chall...

Is your child’s worldview being shaped by a feed or a family? In this episode of Off Syllabus, we tackle the "Validation Game." To get the full picture, we’ve brought together two very different perspectives: a Grade 12 student navigating the final hurdles of school life, and a parent of two (a teenager and a primary schooler) managing the daily digital tug-of-war. As a parenting podcast...

Are we raising "mechanical" children? In this episode of Off Syllabus, host Sangeetha Karthik sits down with the "Master Storyteller" herself, Ms. Geeta Ramanujam, Founder of Kathalaya’s International Academy of Storytelling. In a world dominated by screens and instant gratification, Geetha explains why storytelling isn't just a bedtime ritual—it is a vital life skill and a...

Are we raising "mechanical" children? In this episode of Off Syllabus, host Sangeetha Karthik sits down with the "Master Storyteller" herself, Ms. Geeta Ramanujam, Founder of Kathalaya’s International Academy of Storytelling. Full episode coming soon. ​

We tell first graders to "ask for help," but why do they stop by high school? Join us as we break the silence on the hidden struggles of today’s students. In the premiere episode of Off Syllabus, host Ms. Sangeetha Karthik and Ms. Bornono Sen sits down with expert counsellors Ms. Reshma Narayan (The Brigade Schools) and Ms. Renu Srinivasan (Trauma & Adoption Specialist) to discuss th...

"My child is just seeking attention." But what if that attention is actually a desperate cry for help? In this powerful episode of Off-Syllabus , we peel back the layers of student mental health. From the hidden pressures of social media to the heartbreaking reality of self-harm and panic attacks, we discuss what students are really going through behind closed doors. Join counsellors Ms....

Are we focusing too much on grades and missing the bigger picture? Welcome to Off Syllabus , the podcast where we close the textbooks and open up conversations about the things that truly matter in your child's life. Produced by The Brigade Schools, this show is designed for parents, educators, and anyone raising the next generation. In every episode, we sit down with psychologists, educators,...