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Pathashaala, the youngest of the Krishnamurti Foundation India schools, is situated in Elimichampet village, located 80 km from Chennai. It attempts to bridge the urban and rural divide, aiming to foster individual autonomy and encourage intelligent coexistence with nature.
In a tranquil atmosphere, surrounded by distant hills and caressed by fresh breezes, the staff and students are invited to embrace an environmentally sustainable way of living. The campus utilizes energy sparingly and incorporates solar energy, windmills, and biogas systems. Pathashaala is conscientious about water usage and pollution, and is committed to ecological sanitation. The campus, which produces zero black water effluents, features dry composting toilets for all residents and visitors. Abundant vegetation, including carefully planted trees and herbs, adorn the surroundings. More than 100 bird species, over 70 butterfly species, and 35 types of grass can be observed on the campus (documented by our first alumnus M. Yuvan).


Our History
The Vallipuram project emerged from the journey of The School, an exploration in education and a vision for the future. It took shape as Pathashaala in 2010 and became an independent unit of KFI in 2012.
"To understand life is to understand ourselves, and that is both the beginning and the end of education."
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Sustainability
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Sustainability
120+
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25+
EDUCATOR-LEARNERS
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GRADES
Vision

Surrounded by nature on a flat landscape, residents and visitors at Pathashaala have the privilege of daily gazing upon the horizon, witnessing sunrises and sunsets. Pathashaala operates with a long-term vision in mind, making choices that consider future needs while effectively addressing the immediate. The school emphasizes the importance of questioning and places a strong focus on the holistic education of individuals. Knowledge and intellectual capability alone are insufficient for navigating life's challenges. The core intention of the school is to cultivate the ability to inquire, observe oneself, and relate widely with respect and dignity. The school provides numerous opportunities for such learning. It is therefore imperative for parents and students to understand and appreciate the school's intentions and actively participate in this progressive movement. For more, please see [1], [2].

"The purpose, the aim and drive of these schools is to equip the child with the most excellent technological proficiency, so that he may function with clarity and efficiency in the modern world, and far more important to create the right climate, so that the child may develop fully as a complete human being. This means giving him the opportunity to flower in goodness so that he is rightly related to people, things and ideas, to the whole of life. To live is to be related. There is no relationship to anything if there is not the right feeling for beauty, a response to nature, to music and art, a highly developed aesthetic sense." - Jiddu Krishnamurti
People
The faculty is a dedicated and cohesive group of individuals with diverse backgrounds, who are well-qualified and deeply committed to their purpose. This body of Educator-Learners consists of experienced teachers from KFI schools as well as new teachers. One notable distinction from other educational institutions is the use of the term 'Educator-Learner' instead of 'Teacher.' Pathashaala endeavors to cultivate a nurturing and evolving environment not only for the young but also for the adults who play a vital role in fostering the atmosphere of learning at Pathashaala.
Sumitra M. Gautama

Principal

M.A. in English Honours. M.Ed. (Madras University). Teacher since 1988 at The School and Pathashaala. Worked extensively in Drama and Dialogue for class 11 and senior school trips over 18 years. Principal at Pathashaala since 2018. Coordinated Outreach at The School and now at Pathashaala. Anchored the active learning methodology (ALM) sharing with TN SSA that reached 16,500 schools, and several programs with SCERT, ICDS, etc. Teaches English and Global Perspectives for AS & A level. Trained counsellor with multiple certifications, including career counselling. Also has a Post Grad Diploma in Dance (Kalakshetra).
Bhaveen Sawlani

Vice Principal

M.A. in English Honours (Mumbai University). Teacher at Pathashaala since 2019, Vice Principal since June 2023. Teaches English and Global Perspectives. He continues to coordinate online learning, having been part of the team that started the Zoom and Google Classroom approach during the Corona Lockdown at Pathashaala. Trained with a freelance TV Commercials Editor; proficient in Japanese; worked as a teacher for a year in DPS Surat. Was in Japan for one year as a Goodwill Ambassador through Rotary’s International Exchange Program; Certified for Paragliding (2012) and Completed two National Himalayan Mountaineering Expeditions.
K. Ramesh

Headmaster

B.Sc. in Physics from MKU, BLIS. Post Grad Diploma in System Analysis and Design, NIIT (Grade A). 27 years in KFI institutions - Valley School, The School, & Pathashaala since 2010. Educator-Learner for Science in middle school and Physics in AS & A level.
Uma Iyer

Coordinator Finance & Administration

B.Sc. in Mathematics, CA. 29 years of experience of which 22 have been in KFI institutions (Pathashaala and The School). Coordinator Finance & Administration.
Ramkumar Mahadevan

Joint-Secretary

M.Sc. from Madras University. B.Ed. 29 years in the Airforce (retiring as Group Captain). 12 years as a Physics teacher for ISC 11 & 12. Senior school coordinator at The School KFI for 10 years. 3 years as Principal at Rajghat Besant School. Principal of The Valley School for a year, and serves as Joint Secretary at Palar Centre for Learning.
G. Gautama

Director-Secretary

B.Tech. in Metallurgy from IIT Madras. Involved with Pathashaala since 2002. Principal & Director of The School KFI, for 21 years. Director of Sahyadri Education Centre for 3 years. Former Scientist at BARC for 5 years. Engineering consultant for 10 years. Trustee at KFI.