Our Balavihar Coordinators
Valli Subramanian
Balavihar Session I Coordinator
Chinmaya Mission has been a part of Valli’s life for the past 35 years. She joined Balavihar as a kindergartener (Sunday morning BV
veteran), and attended the Gita Jnana Yajnas conducted by Swami Chinmayananda in Chennai.
Here is the impact of Chinmaya Mission on her life in her own words:
As a seventh grader I was fortunate enough to listen to Pujya Gurudev’s electrifying speeches and receive his blessings in person. That itself has been my motivation to be associated with Chinmaya Mission. My exposure to Chinmaya Mission has definitely made a positive impact on my life. I love to teach and at the same time I love to learn and being a Balavihar teacher and coordinator gives me the opportunity to do both. This is my fourth year of teaching Balavihar. I have taught the 6th and 8th grades and will be teaching the 3rd grade this year.
My guest list for a party would surely include Swami Tejomayananda (his sparkling humor with loaded messages), Swami Paramarthananda (I learnt a few chapters of the Gita and its meaning from him in Chennai. Wonderful sense of humor too!) Swami Nikhilananda (who motivated me to teach at Balavihar), Uddhavji (my mentor - his enthusiasm is contagious), Wayne Dyer (I admire him), Oprah Winfrey and Jay Leno (my favorite entertainers).
On my wish list is a trip to the Himalayas and Lake Manasarovar.
Sharda Gupta
Balavihar Session II Coordinator
Sharda Gupta has been associated with Chinmaya Mission for the past 14 years. Of these, she has been a Balavihar teacher for 13 years
and coordinator of the second session for the last 4 years. In her past life, she has worked as a newscaster on All-India Radio (New
Delhi) and currently manages a small manufacturing firm in the DFW area.
Here is what she would like to share about herself with all of you:
The most fascinating part of being a coordinator is identifying the young talent, guiding and encouraging them to bring in new and better ideas while keeping our values and culture intact. Teaching these kids has been a blessing for me. In this process I learn a lot myself. I like to teach younger kids, because they listen so carefully and believe in everything we try to teach them. That motivates me even more to prepare a good lesson, and I continue to learn everyday! Kids look up to the teacher as an example. This helps teachers to improve themselves to become an exemplary model for them. Values cannot be taught - they have to be modeled. Hence teaching these kids about values make us follow those values.
Main item on her wish list: I wish the facilities of CM D/FW could grow as fast as the Balavihar enrollment!
Gauthami Vemula
Balavihar Session III Coordinator
Gauthami Vemula has been teaching at Chinmaya Mission for the past three years and still going strong on her fourth year. Gauthami works
for Child Protective Services as a Forensic Interviewer and Social Worker. 
She has number of hobbies and interests that would take too
long to write-up! She took up the role as a coordinator because it was her "calling" and to serve God and mankind.
Her message:
The most fascinating part of Chinmaya Mission is teaching the children and being part of the Chinmaya family. Seeing and watching the children smile and learn about the Hindu culture and life puts a smile on my face. Working with Swamiji and the talented group of volunteers is another delight. I'm excited to be part of the Chinmaya Mission family and look forward to seeing Balavihar grow. Hari Om!
Maya Nair
Balavihar Coppell Center Coordinator
I joined Chinmaya Mission in 1998 and have enjoyed the adult satsangs and discussions since then. This is my 5th year as a Balavihar teacher and first year as Balavihar Coordinator.
I am a professor by profession, hence I like teaching. I enjoy working with kids, playing with them, doing projects with them and challenging them. Anything to spread the word about India is my cup of tea! I am inspired by Gurudev’s words “Children are not vessels to be filled, but lamps to be lit.”
I am so happy and grateful to be a part of Chinmaya Mission. In adult satsang, most of the time my questions are answered even without asking. Every time I come to the mission, I go home with more comfort and clarity. Back home, I grew up in a village with a lot of temples and big families to take care of everything. Most of these rituals and traditions are a part of daily life in India, so that one does not have to make an extra effort to teach them to the children. Balavihar fondly provides my memories a weekly free ride back to my village, and a sweet visit to my childhood.
Teaching is one of the most rewarding jobs. The smiling faces of the children and their sweet “aunty” calls follow you no matter wherever you go. My hobbies include art, music, dance and painting. I also like to travel and visit different places.