" I speak only when I feel there is something that interests me. Would that be called selectively introverted? Haha!"
Q. Varun, you wear many hats — teacher, TEDx speaker, musician, solo traveller. How do you introduce yourself when someone asks who you are?
I’m a human first, living a life like everyone else. I don’t tend to keep my achievements from describing me. I think all of that happened because I chose humanity over everything else.
Q. As a teacher and TEDx speaker, what is one idea you believe today’s students need to hear more often?
I feel students today go through a great ordeal that stretches beyond their age and academics. Most of what they learn in their curricula does not connect to their daily lives. This often brings unwarranted stress to them, and eventually onto their teachers and parents. An idea for them is to pick up a task that they enjoy observing, doing or accomplishing with minimal effort and a great deal of passion, much earlier on in life. This sets the tone for immense diversity in the field of growth for them and the nation. We don’t want to lose a good engineer by losing a great singer, or make an incompetent doctor by letting go of a great poet. Each child comes with their own strengths. It is everyone’s responsibility to recognise this at the earliest and guide them well.
Q. Does your experience as an educator influence the kind of music you create or listen to?
That’s a tricky question! Music is very subjective, as you know, and my interest in music mostly came through early childhood. The tone was set by parents and grandparents listening to classical music on the radio or the TV. I’ve been exposed to music much earlier than becoming an educator. My choice in music is mostly Indian Classical-based or Bollywood Retro. Lataji and Mohd Rafi are some of my favourites.
I do enjoy the likes of western music too – Billy Joel, Queen, Boney M, etc. After a day with the kids, some of these songs can prep me up for another day! As a Sitar and a Tabla player, I play mostly what my Gurus have taught me, and that itself can be an excellent way to recharge my mind.
Q. You describe yourself as ‘introverted.’ How has being an introvert shaped your journey as a speaker and performer, two fields usually associated with extroversion?
I speak only when I feel there is something that interests me. Would that be called selectively introverted? Haha! I love sharing ideas. I am not drawn to materialistic ideas or accessories. So, if someone is speaking about Geopolitics, Education Policies, nation-building, Music, Travel, Books, Cricket of the 90s, Animal Rights, I am all ears!Even in my classroom, when I guide my students, we speak of things that truly matter. I would also like my students to value things that make them better people. As their teacher, it becomes my primary responsibility to make them competent citizens.
Q. If you could instantly teleport to any country right now, where would you go and what would be the first thing you’d do there?
A nation is happy when its citizens are content with their lives. So, Finland could be on top of my list, just so that I could visit their schools and see what makes them excel, yet maintain a perfect balance of life. Of course, and not to forget to get a cup of good hot chocolate to beat the chill!Bio
Varun C. Prasad is a TEDx speaker, educator, and musician whose work blends curiosity, compassion, and creativity. A passionate solo traveller, he has explored countries across Asia, Europe, and Africa, documenting his journeys as reflections on culture, human connection, and personal growth.With a deep love for animals and an eye for meaningful experiences, Varun brings a thoughtful, introspective voice to everything he does. Whether he is teaching, performing music, or travelling alone to new corners of the world, he continues to inspire audiences to live intentionally and embrace the beauty of learning from people, places, and stories.
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Watch Varun's TEDx Talk Here
Watch Varun's TEDx Talk Here
Interviewed By Tarunanshi Sharma
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