• India in Classrooms (IC) is a non-political, non-religious, non-profit organization that welcomes individuals of all races, nationalities and religions.

• India in Classrooms is a network-based grassroots organization that is focused on generating deeper understanding about India through its Teacher Support Program, by providing accurate and comprehensive information about Indian history and culture to schools.

• India in Classrooms aims to dispel myths and misunderstanding about Indian culture and history and improve the way Indians are perceived in America. Please scroll down for video

• India in Classrooms is committed to raise the self-esteem of young Indian Americans by projecting Indian culture in its rightful world perspective on par with western culture. IC hopes to change the present Euro centric conditioning in American education

• India in Classrooms hopes to foster our human connection and strengthen inter-cultural ties within neighborhoods, through its ‘World is the Family’ theme

• India in Classrooms aims to create awareness among Indian parents about classroom instruction on India and to be alert to any misinformation on the subject

• India in Classrooms has been formed to give voice to the concerns of the Indian community with regards to curriculum and multicultural activity in schools

• India in Classrooms does not believe in undermining or comparing with any culture, civilization, organization or cause in its efforts to bring truthful knowledge about India to future world citizens

  
  

Listen to Mona's India in Classrooms' PODCASTS on Podbazaar.com


India in Classrooms is a voluntary network based organization that was formed in June 2003 through the initiative of Mona Vijaykar, (see Mercury News 'Putting a Spotlight on Indian History'). Mona, who was born into the illustrious Sonalker family, is a mother of two sons who have been students in the California Public School system as well as in private elementary schools. As a Visual Communications and Advertising professional, Mona decided to put her skills to more meaningful use after coming to the US, that is, to generate deeper awareness about the Indian civilization among mainstream Americans. ( read Times of India 'Mom with a Mission'and also read Mona's story in her own words.)

Since IC is a network based venture, its member base is constantly growing. IC receives mail from interested individuals on the East coast, UK and Canada for consultation and supply of presentation material. IC has a mailing list of 100 plus individuals primarily residing in the San Francisco Bay Area. These are parents, teachers, college students, grandparents and others who enthusiastically support our cause and help expand our networking base to become an effective grassroots organization. (Please click here to view the power point presentation on the ‘Need for a Network’)

The following individuals deserve mention for their support in the past one year through references, recommendations, sharing of valuable information and promoting IC in their own unique way.

Jayashree Raj Sridevi Ganti Deepka Lalwani Lata Trilokekar Avinash Chitnis Rashmi Velkar Mala Padmanabhan Monica Pal Sue Benjaram Ragini Murarka Sheila Patel Surbhi Sheth-Shah Raji Musinipally Binita Wagle Sanjay Minocha R.Srinivasan Arti Nigam Deepa Zaveri Kirti Ruparel Virendra Rana Sharmila Kumar Amita Joshi Madhulika Singh Ashima Saxena Anita Govindjee Katyayini & Satya Neerja Raman Prashant Shukla Shweta Balakrishnan Marianna Keller Ajit Mayya-Sonali Desai Lakshmi Prakash Saraswathi Ayyar Savita Vaidyanathan Dianne Porter Kinjal Buch Jill Wilson Shweta Srivastava Karishma Chandnani Priya Batheja Nirmala Agarwal

REMARKABLE EDUCATORS IC recognizes the following educators for their valuable support and their universal vision in giving their students broader cultural perspective Pamela Dovala, Redwood Middle School,Saratoga Cheryl Bushmire, Director of Certified Personnel, Human ResourcesFremont Joshua Marks,Redwood Middle School,Saratoga Susan Bianchini,Redwood Middle School,Saratoga Pam Demertzis,Redwood Middle School,Saratoga Vicki Wyant,Redwood Middle School,Saratoga Matt Stevens, Sakamoto Elementary School, San Jose Lisa Reiss,Sakamoto Elementary School, San Jose Sandy Yokota, Bret Harte Middle School, San Jose Brenda Pinto, North Star Academy, Redwood City Judy Draper, North Star Academy, Redwood City Raymond Dwaley, Principal, North Star Academy, Redwood City Mr. Fischer, North Star Academy, Redwood City Ms Wallace, North Star Academy, Redwood City Julie Tinker, Girls Middle School, Mountainview Mrs. Montoya, Parkview Middle School, San Jose Mrs. Dixson,Parkview Middle School, San Jose Risha Krishna, Mission High School, Fremont Bill Bost, Harker School, San Jose Carol Zink,Harker School, San Jose MaiLien Nguyen,Harker School, San Jose Ruth Meyer,Harker School, San Jose Mark Gileneau,Harker School, San Jose Pat White,Harker School, San Jose Margaret McGovern,Harker School, San Jose Yvonne Westre, Terman Middle School, Palo Alto Margaret Hulgrave, Terman Middle School, Palo Alto Joanne Maher, Terman Middle School, Palo Alto Karen Brandon, Forest Park Elementary, Fremont Debra Troxell,Saratoga High School, Saratoga Ted Hogan,Forest Park Elementary, Fremont Elyssa Nacor,Forest Park Elementary, Fremont Bev Chernoff, Director of Certified Personnel, Human Resources, Fremont Cynthia Ranii, Superintendent Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High School District, Saratoga Muriel Evans, Vice Principal, Forest Park Elementary School, Fremont Deborah Farrington-Padilla, Sacred Heart College Preparatory, Atherton Ben Hunter, Sacred Heart College Preparatory, Atherton Anne Adams, Covington Elementary School, Los Altos Judy Stikeleather, Girls Middle School, Mountainview Tami K. Scott, Casa di Mir Montessori, Campbell Richard Ellis, Saratoga High School, Saratoga Mathew Torrens, Saratoga High School, Saratoga Eric Witter, Fisher Middle School, Los Gatos Marjorie DeWilde, Hyde Middle School, Cupertino Mr Lyon, Hyde Middle School, Cupertino Senora Lynn, Hyde Middle School, Cupertino Sue Brooks, PrincipalArgonaut Elementary School, Saratoga Sharon Makoff, Argonaut Elementary School, Saratoga Mrs Elerath, Argonaut Elementary School, Saratoga Mrs Leatherman, Shepherd of the Valley School, San Jose Mrs Piazza, Shepherd of the Valley School, San Jose Mrs Boghassian, Shepherd of the Valley School, San Jose Mrs. Mala Padmanabhan, Columbia Middle School, Sunnyvale Ms. Sharon Eilts, Columbia Middle School, Sunnyvale Arati Nagaraj, Casa di Mir, Campbell Tonia Secor, Casa di Mir, Campbell Erin Paige, Casa di Mir, Campbell Cathy Williams, Casa di Mir, Campbell Hoon Kyeong, Casa di Mir, Campbell Deb Hof, Principal, Girls Middle School, Mountainview Peter Koehler, Girls Middle School, Mountainview Brian Benevides, Parkmont Elementary School, Fremont C. Hollister, Parkmont Elementary School, Fremont Vanessa Jordan, Almond Middle School, Los Altos Ms Kern, Almond Middle School, Los Altos Ms Shelley, Almond Middle School, Los Altos Mr Nathan Earl, Almond Middle School, Los Altos Mr Sergio Vasquez, Stuart Hall High School, San Francisco Ms Sheila Chatterjee, Stuart Hall High School, San Francisco Ms Marla Deutsch,Columbia Middle School, Sunnyvale Ms Priya Batheja, Goss Elementary School, San Jose Ms Wyatt, Goss Elementary School, San Jose Mr. E-C, Goss Elementary School, San Jose Ms. Anna Williams, Cupertino Middle School, Cupertino

In order to reach her objectives, Mona has used a multi-pronged approach over a period of 18 years (filter coffee: read 'Textbook knowledge'):

1991 - Wrote and illustrated children’s books("Born in America") ("Tom Nick or Harry") (view excerpt)
1993 - Wrote and directed the musical 'Indosaurus in Step' (view Argus article)(San Jose Mercury report)
1994 - Ran a Children's Column for India Currents(view Playpen)
1997 - In Bangalore, produced 'Watch out for the Indosaurus' (view poster)
2002 -2006 Wrote articles that explain Indian culture to mainstream Americans.