The Indian education sector has long depended on committed teachers who work quietly within classrooms and communities, particularly in government institutions. Among them, Dr. P. Kalaiselvi represents a sustained model of service that extends beyond academics into research, student mentoring, and public well-being.
Born on 5 April 1964 in Ranipet, Vellore District of Tamil Nadu, Dr. Kalaiselvi is currently residing in Vellore. Her professional journey spans nearly four decades, reflecting the evolving responsibilities of educators in India’s public education system. She began her career as a psychology lecturer at the college level, serving for six years, before transitioning into school education, where she worked as a science teacher for 34 years, largely within government schools.
Throughout her career, Dr. Kalaiselvi has been associated with consistent academic performance. Between 2017 and 2023, her students achieved centum results in science for 17 consecutive years, an uncommon accomplishment within the government school framework. Beyond examination outcomes, she encouraged students to participate in district- and state-level academic and co-curricular competitions, resulting in over 12,000 certificates, medals, and shields earned by her students. Her school also secured 47 first-place shields during this period.
Academically, Dr. Kalaiselvi has pursued an unusually wide range of disciplines. She holds postgraduate degrees in Tamil, English, Mathematics, Chemistry, Sociology, Psychology, and Economics, along with M.Phil degrees in English and Education. Her doctoral studies span linguistics, yoga, and social work, reflecting an interdisciplinary outlook that connects education with health and social development.
In recent years, her focus has increasingly expanded into wellness education. After completing postgraduate studies in yoga and qualifying Yoga Certification Board examinations at Levels 3 and 6, she undertook specialised training in face yoga, breathing practices, and meditation. Through free yoga programmes, both theoretical and practical, she has trained approximately 670 yoga teachers, many of whom received certifications from the Indian Yoga Association and recognised government bodies. She is currently preparing additional batches of yoga teachers and yoga therapists.
Dr. Kalaiselvi has also been conducting free evening yoga sessions for women for more than 2,000 consecutive days, demonstrating a sustained commitment to community health. Alongside her teaching and wellness initiatives, she contributes articles to monthly magazines, writing on the application of mudras in managing various health conditions.
Her long-standing work has been recognised across multiple fields including education, yoga, social service, literature, and music. To date, she has received over 3,000 awards (till today). These include the Best Teacher Award on 11 occasions, along with honours such as Yoga Thilagam, Yoga Ratna, Yoga Acharya, Yoga Kalaimaamani, Karma Bhushan Outstanding Yoga Coach, Best Yoga Coach, and a Lifetime Achiever title acknowledging her service in schools and colleges.
In addition to these recognitions, Dr. Kalaiselvi has been associated with nine world records related to yoga at national and international levels, as well as one record in education. Among these achievements, she guided a student to secure a Jetley World Record by performing Padmasana continuously for 120 minutes while reading medicinal texts aloud.
At a personal level, Dr. Kalaiselvi’s family reflects a strong academic and professional background. Her husband, Dr. R. Sundaresan, is a mechanical engineer with a Ph.D. from IIT Madras and currently serves as the Principal of Gyzan University in Saudi Arabia. Her elder son is an automotive engineer working with Stellantis in Chennai, while her younger son is an AI engineer associated with Vrije Universiteit Brussel in Belgium.
As India’s education landscape continues to evolve, careers such as that of Dr. P. Kalaiselvi underscore the enduring role of long-term commitment in public education, where teaching, mentorship, and community engagement together contribute to lasting social impact.
