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Compiled by Editorial Team
Every child can learn. Every child can grow. Every child deserves dignity, opportunity, and love.
— P. Thankamani
In the landscape of inclusive education and neurodiversity advocacy, few individuals embody selfless dedication quite like Mrs. P. Thankamani, Principal of The SEED School. For over four decades, her life's work has revolved around a single, powerful conviction: that children of all abilities deserve to live with dignity, self-worth, and equal opportunity.
Today, she spearheads the construction of a permanent, specialised centre for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) children at Malamukal in Thiruvananthapuram, her journey stands as a beacon of inspiring leadership in educating Children with Different Abilities.
Mrs. Thankamani began her career as a conventional schoolteacher in 1982 after completing her teacher training, believing her purpose was simply to educate young minds. However, an unexpected encounter in 1990 altered her life's trajectory. She met a mother raising three daughters with developmental Challenges. Listening to the family's daily struggles, Thankamani was struck not just by the hardships they faced, but by the systemic exclusion the children experienced—denied speech, basic independence, and the simple joys of childhood.
A haunting question took root in her heart: "Born into a life they did not choose, the very least they deserve is the dignity we all take for granted."
Driven by this question, she decided to take a life to support these special need children. She herself transitioned into special education. Encouraged by Smt. Leela Devi teacher, she joined the newly established Marian Play Home—founded by Dr. Elsy Philip, then Principal of Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram.
In the photo Thankamani teacher feeding a student who has difficulty in swallowing food due to a condition called dysphagia.
Without formal specialization at the start, Thankamani teacher treated every child as her teacher and every hurdle as a learning opportunity. To deepen her knowledge, she pursued advanced professional training in child development and autism, culminating in specialized studies in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) from the University of Northampton, United Kingdom.
For 32 years, Thankamani teacher served as the Principal of Marian Play Home, guiding hundreds of children and their families:
When Thankamani retired after 32 years of service at Marian Play Home, slowing down was never an option. As she famously notes, "How do I retire from a purpose?"
In 2024, alongside six other like-minded retired professionals, she co-founded the Society to Educate and Empower the Differently Skilled (SEED). Their objective was clear: build a sanctuary where every child, regardless of the severity of their physical or mental barriers, is respected and given the tools to fulfil their potential.
Driven by a vision to provide a permanent home for these children, Thankamani and co-founder Mr. T. J. Mathew pooled their personal retirement savings to purchase land at Serene Malamukal, Thiruvananthapuram.
As the school grew, Thankamani teacher recognized that children on the autism spectrum require environments specifically tailored to their sensory and physical needs—spaces that are safe, structured, and inherently calming. A rented building could only be a temporary step. Construction is now underway for a comprehensive, state-of-the-art campus tailored specifically for children with ASD and other developmental disabilities.
The permanent Malamukal campus is designed to address one of the greatest anxieties faced by aging parents of neurodivergent children: "What will happen to my child after us?"
Thankamani teacher's vision for SEED extends far beyond traditional school hours:
P. Thankamani’s journey illustrates what empathetic, action-oriented leadership looks like in education. By investing her personal resources, decades of expertise, and unyielding faith into building the Malamukal Center for SEED, she is not merely constructing a facility—she is building a legacy of hope, dignity, and true inclusion for neurodivergent individuals in Kerala and beyond.
Diversity salute her dedication and passion to make a change in the lives of Children with Different Abilities and profound barriers. We believe her life and work will be a seeding inspiration for 1000s of kind hearts. As she proclaim, ‘how one can retire from their passion’?