Mina Swaminathan


Meena Swaminathan is an Indian educationist in the field of pre-school education. As a teacher at St. Thomas’s School, New Delhi, she developed methods using drama in education and language learning, both inside and outside the classroom.
In children’s drama, she has developed techniques for creative improvisation, and in writing and production of documentary mime plays. Meena Swaminathan is married to Indian Agricultural Scientist, and "Father of Green Revolution" M.S. Swaminathan, whom she met in 1951 while they were both studying at Cambridge.

Early life

Meena Swaminathan was born in New Delhi to the Indian Civil Servant and economist S.Bhoothalingam and the Tamil novelist and playwright Krithika. She earned her B.A. in 1951 from Delhi University and B.A. in 1953, Cambridge University. Her M.A. in 1958 from Panjab University, earned her B.Ed. in 1956 from Central Institute of Education. She earned her M.A. in 1961 Economics from Cambridge University

Career

As Chairperson of the Study Group on the Development of the pre-school child, she submitted the report to the Advisory Board of Education which formed the basis of the scheme later known as Integrated Child Development Services.
She was a Consultant to UNESCO on Early Childhood Care and Education, as well as to UNICEF when she undertook assignments in Vietnam and Kampuchea. She has been Secretary and later President of the Indian Association for Pre-school Education, as well as Editor of its journal, and a Member of the Central Advisory Board of Education. She is also part of the board of trustees in the non-profit M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
She is the author of several books on the subject of drama and child development and has also contributed articles to leading publications. Her publications include manuals for teachers and day care workers on care and education of children below six, a study of day care for poor working women in India

Personal life

Meena Swaminathan is married to Indian Agricultural Scientist, M.S. Swaminathan, whom she met in 1951 while they were both studying at Cambridge. They live in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. They have three daughters and five grandchildren. Their daughters, Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, the Director General of ICMR-India, Dr. Madhura Swaminathan, who is a Professor of Economics at the Indian Statistical Institute, Bangalore and Nitya Swaminathan, a Senior Lecturer in Gender Analysis and Development at the University of East Anglia. They have 5 grandchildren.

Fellowships/Awards