Teacher Portrait – Ms Moumita

Growing up in West Bengal, and being inspired by Rabindranath Tagore in Santiniketan, Ms Moumita and her schools’ focuses were on cultural enrichment. She grew up knowing that values build one’s character and how academics will follow enjoying learning. This is how Ms Moumita learnt how to be sensitive to different perspectives and interpretations, take responsibility for her own actions and being non-judgemental. We reached out to Ms Moumita to learn more about her, teaching and learning, and visions for the future.  

I feel now the connection is organic – Ms Moumita, Head of Geography and Global Perspectives Department, TOK 

Ms Moumita has worked in Dubai for three years, which contributed to how she is open to ideas and creating multicultural learning experiences for students. Having lived and worked at TISB for more than 13 years, Ms Moumita, whose son graduated from the same school, has evolved and developed on campus and in the classrooms. “I am growing with TISB and TISB has grown on me”, says Ms Moumita, who now feels that the connection is natural and organic. Ms Moumita believes that along with learned and helpful colleagues, it is the inquisitive and intuitive student body that make TISB the best place to work in. It is also inspirational to meet former students. “Being in any place for long has its advantages. Wherever you go you will have a student walking up to you asking: “Miss, do you remember me?”.” 

Ms Moumita is a very passionate, happy and proud person, and when meeting former students she reminisces about their time here at TISB. “I see them growing up and it amazes me to see how they mature in their insight, research and lucidity”, says Ms Moumita, who is proud to be part of the students’ development. Recently Ms Moumita was involved with the students’ TOK Exhibition, which was the first social event after school reopening and which invited parents to campus. “The Exhibition intends to create a bridge between personal knowledge and shared perspectives”, explains Ms Moumita. “This intensive framework opens up an enormous opportunity to explore personal experiences, socio-cultural influences and cognitive decoupling to practice intellectual humility, to go through evaluative criticism and reach reflective introspection.” 

Being a passionate teacher, Ms Moumita likes her students to be aware and try to pursue their excellence through project work in TOK, Geography and Global Perspectives. “They are happy when their presentations are praised and spotlighted. The biggest achievement in Global Perspectives was to have two projects selected as IGCSE exemplars.” 

A quick Q&A with Ms Moumita 

What is your favourite food? 
Tandoori roti and mutton kosha, all Bengali sweets. 

What is your favourite music? 
Over the years I have moved towards Indian instrumental. 

What is your favourite book and movie?  
Book: Roktokarabi (Red Oleanders but in original) by Rabindranath Tagore. Movie: The Unbearable Lightness of Being. 

What is your favourite animal? 
Panda and giraffe. 

What is your favourite colour? 
Alicante Bouschet red and turquoise. 

What is your favourite hobby?  
Reading historical fiction. Learning history through storytelling has a lot of room for imagination.