Nalini Rathakris has bagged Exemplary Women Leadership Award

It is truly an honour for Nalini Rathakris to receive this prestigious award, the 'Best Organization for Women Talents Development Award' under the category of Women Leadership Awards from Women Icon of the Year powered by Times Women. It is a privilege that she is selected as an awardee among other deserving candidates.

Her heartfelt appreciation and gratitude go to the Women Icon organisation for recognising her efforts and contribution to the community. She believes that such recognition motivates her to achieve greater accomplishments in life. It also warms her heart to know that she can set an example for the upcoming generations has been a pillar to four of her disciples who have also been rewarded with an award from Women Icon, namely Datin Velankkani Mohan, "Excellent Women Achiever Award", Teesha Nanthini Sukumaran, "Youth Excellence Award", Mahalakshmi Sukumaran, "Young Achiever Award" and Nameetha Segar, "Outstanding Young Women Achiever Award".

Nalini Rathakris has been involved in Bharatanatyam since 1999 and took various training to expand her knowledge in dance, where she bloomed as an accomplished Bharatanatya exponent. Having a great passion and an unadulterated dedication for the Indian classical dance, Nalini has decided to teach this ancient Indian art to the upcoming young generation. This dream is Nalini's foundation upon which she has sowed her aspirations and established her school, Sri Rathakrishanan Music & Arts Centre.

Her dance academy has grown in strength and spread its wings with classes being conducted in various places. Throughout her teaching career, she has taught nearly 1000 students in her lifetime including young learners, adolescents, young adult learners, working adults, beginners, intermediate learners, advance, pre-professional and professional dancers, underprivileged youth, and people with physical and developmental disabilities. Nalini believes that this could be a way to preserve the authentic Indian classical dance so that, it will not be abandoned as people these days give very little

priority to fine arts. As a teacher, Nalini is concerned with playing the role that would mould young children and even adults with divine virtues, a good attitude, culture, and a positive way of thinking. According to her, a student who learns this dance has to first undergo a firm training in which she/he will be able to discipline herself/himself and inculcate the power of tolerance, patience, collaboration, communication, and also problem-solving. These qualities will help to shape the student's personality and her/his soul to be a better person and achieve success in various aspects of life.

Some of her strong suits include: the ability to work collaboratively; the interest in and engagement with her students; passion for dance has led her to improve her teaching and the learning experience for her students; her ability to embrace new and relevant technologies in supporting her pursuit of effective teaching and dance performances; her interest in personal and professional development; and her creative work. Nalini does well as a team player, and she thrives in a supportive, diligent, and creative working  environment.

She enjoys the challenge of ascertaining and responding to the changing desires and needs of individual students and relevant matters at her dance academy. She has always been interested in her students' academics, dance progress, and performances as well as their personal qualities. She also consciously strives to connect with them and remains approachable, accessible, and is generous with her time when interacting with those who seek her advice and services.

The success of staging numerous performances locally spurred Nalini to confidently attend and organise many international dance events in countries like Singapore, India, New Zealand, and so on. With the many years of creative excellence, the principal and her disciples of Sri Rathakrishanan Music & Arts Centre have presented some notable dance drama productions and theatrical performances such as Golden Night, 'Manasarovar Dakshayani', The Shakti of Righteousness, 'Kagesha', The Decider of Destinies, 'Panchatattva', 'Puratchi Murasu', 'A Tribute to Thanjavur Quartet' and so forth. Being an established principal for her dance

academy, dance teacher, choreographer, artistic director, and a trainer herself, she attracted innumerable viewers' attention through various local and international media as a result of being awarded a place in the Malaysia Book of Records and Asia Book of Records, upon the completion of her recent achievement, Suaranatya.

In recognition of her efforts in the field of art and her teaching career, Nalini has received several significant awards from reputable platforms. Having established a great rapport with SJK(T) Simpang Lima as a wonderful choreographer and an artistic director for 8 years, Nalini was awarded as the 'Best Achiever' as a co-curriculum teacher.

Besides, she was also honoured with the title 'Natya Tilakam' by the Eka Bhavana management committee for her excellent performance through the art of Bharatanatyam. Not only that, but Nalini also received the 'Nrityacharya Award' for her extraordinary contribution and excellent services in Bharatanatyam at the Saptarang International Festival of Indian Art & Culture.

Nalini Rathakris is also determined to continue nurturing growing talents by devoting her life to not only enrich the diversity of Indian culture and religion but also serving the community. Through these years, Nalini's dance academy has provided high-quality dance classes to low- resourced children and youth from preschool through high school, at little or no cost.

Along with the benefits of dance, such as discipline, focus, and physical awareness, Nalini has provided a haven to build positive relationships and friendships in a goal oriented-environment, helping students raise the bar for their own lives that has encouraged youth achievement outcomes.

She is also aspired to complement this with the altruistic goal to carry out humanitarian work and community services hence established a non-profit organization, Pertubuhan Kesenian & Kebudayaan SRFA. Nalini wishes to ingrain discipline, stresses good qualities and attitudes, helps the future generation to develop leadership, communication, and organization skills that produce great achievers and noble people for the community. This noble motive of hers is supported by the committee members of this organisation, a team of aspiring and determined young girls. Her organization focuses on education, health, environment, and social awareness among the young generation, hence conducts relevant social activities and campaigns to fulfil her aspirations.

Some notable campaigns that have been carried out in the past include Kempen Hari Merdeka (National Day campaign), Voice of Earth (World Environment Day campaign), and 1-Day Animal Donation Drive. In short, she pledges to develop a world of young leaders who are socially conscious, resourceful, intellectually curious, and thoughtful. These are the little steps that have paved her journey of million miles.

Nalini would like to take this opportunity to convey her deep and sincere gratitude to her parents, Mr & Mrs. Rathakris Samandusuary for their continuous and unparalleled love, help, and support.

She is forever indebted to her parents for giving her the opportunities and experiences that have made her who she is today. A special appreciation to her mentors, Dr. Rajeswary A. Sargunan and Mr. Theban Arumugan for guiding her on the right path. Their guidance and advice on both career and life have been invaluable.

Soon, Nalini hopes to further extend her services to other children and youths outside of this academy with the help of other organisations or companies who are interested in charitable outreach programs. She also hopes to inspire and motivate the women race in the Indian community to become independent, positive, and successful achievers that the nation would be proud of.

I want those under my guidance to not only be prepared to succeed in the world that exists now but also to succeed in creating a better world that doesn't exist yet.

-Nalini Rathakris