Team – Welcome to ILeka

Kapil Deshpande

Founder

Kapil is a writer, poet, and linguist whose journey into education began with unschooling his daughter. He designs experiential, child-centered learning rooted in creativity, empathy, and real-life experiences. At ILeka, he leads sessions in language, arts, and value education, fostering joyful, holistic learning for all.

Kirti Deshpande

Co founder and Director

Kirti is a passionate language expert with a deep interest in world cultures, history, and culinary traditions. She blends her love for writing, calligraphy, sports, and cooking into her teaching, creating engaging and meaningful learning experiences. Kirti believes in personalized education and strives to build a joyful, inclusive space that nurtures curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking.

Sejal Parikh

Hello! I’m Sejal Parikh, and I’m proud to be part of the Ileka School of Applied Learning team—where I both teach Japanese and contribute on the administrative side. Japanese Instructor: With a passion for language and culture, I guide students through effective Japanese lessons—from basic greetings and hiragana/katakana to conversational practice and cultural immersion. Student-Centered Approach: Whether in the classroom or in the office, I believe every interaction should be friendly, structured, and purpose-driven—helping each student stay confident and engaged.

Samir K Parikh

Facilitator - Projects & Arthashastra

Studied MBA, Marketing. Has 20 years of experience in Sales & Head hunting. He builds and executes end to end learning ideas, integrating it with hand-ons Project for overall learning. Takes Arthashashtra (Finance), Marketings & Sales as Subjects. He is an extrovert, avid read, loves traveling, meeting people and partying. Sports enthusiast and risk taker. Reiki and chakra healer.

Naynish Kuchekar

Sanskrut Expert. Mimansa Shastra, Carpentry

With a background in Gurukul learning and a Master’s in Sanskrit, brings a deeply rooted cultural perspective to education. At ILEKA, he teaches Sanskrit, carpentry, and Mīmāṁsā, encouraging critical thinking and natural learning. He believes language is best absorbed through daily use, and students at ILEKA joyfully speak Sanskrit. His sessions blend Indian philosophy, storytelling, and multi-language recitations to create a vibrant, reflective learning space.

Trupti Vispute

Main Co-ordinator- Maths, English, Sanskrit - Chhanda Gat

She has done MBM, is the Head Coordinator of Kalpa Gat and Chhanda Gat. With over five years at Ileka, she leads subjects like Maths, Sanskrit, Yoga, Science, and English, along with games and activity-based learning. She also manages festivals and events, adding cultural vibrancy to the school. Driven by a passion for teaching and a belief in joyful, experiential learning, Trupti stepped beyond conventional methods to support children’s natural curiosity and creative growth.

Varsha Sawant

Maths, Marathi, Hindi, Art & Craft.

Co ordinator of Kalpa Gat group with energy and creativity. With a B.Sc. background, she handles Hindi, Maths, Art & Craft, and festival/event management. Passionate about hands-on learning, Varsha has grown personally through her work at ILeka. She believes in nurturing curiosity and self-expression through natural, activity-based methods that reflect the school’s experiential approach.

Dr. Rachna Bafana

Science (Human Anatomy)

An ophthalmologist by profession, Dr. Rachna brings her medical expertise into the classroom with a passion for teaching human anatomy to children. She also engages students in discussions on medical emergencies and various science-related topics, making complex concepts accessible and relevant to young learners.

Swanandi Sadolikar

Trainer - Classical Vocal

Swanandi Sadolikar is a trained classical vocalist with an M.P.A in Vocal Music from Shivaji University and a Sangeet Alankar from ABGM. Born into a family of musicians, she received rigorous taalim from renowned gurus such as Pt. Madhukar Joshi and Vidushi Jayashri Patnekar. Recognized as an ‘A’ Grade Artist by All India Radio, Swanandi has performed at prestigious venues and festivals across India. She is also the founder of Swar Bhan, an initiative that introduces classical music to young children through an engaging, interdisciplinary, and student-centered approach.

Rupali Kuchekar

Main Co-ordinator - Talegaon

She began her educational journey in a village in Ahmednagar and went on to complete her M.A. and B.Ed. Her perspective on education transformed after experiencing her husband's Gurukul-based learning journey. This shift led her to ILeka School, where she now works with the Kalpa Group, teaching Mathematics, Sanskrit, and Marathi through playful, engaging methods. At ILeka, she finds daily joy, growth, and a deeper sense of purpose in nurturing young minds.

Dhruti Parmar

English, Gujarati, Maths, Art & Craft - Talegaon.

A science graduate with a Master’s in Bioinformatics and a deep belief that education is not limited to textbooks. it's about exploring, experiencing, and connecting with life. This belief aligns with Ileka's Approach which inspired me to become part of this journey.With a heart for childhood development, I focus on nurturing curiosity, critical thinking, and emotional growth . I believe learning should be joyful, meaningful, and connected to the world around us. I am here to share my journey and create joyful, life-oriented learning experiences that spark interest and imagination in young minds.

Hemal Patel

Agriculture

He is founder of UrbanSoil and co-creator of Prakriti Ki Pathshala (PKP), is dedicated to sustainability and nature-based learning. Through UrbanSoil, he promotes regenerative living with circular economy solutions. With Janki Patel, he created PKP—an experiential program that transforms schools, homes, and farms into ecosystems of learning. Their work has impacted 10,000+ learners across India and the UK. Hemal also leads urban farming, eco-clubs, and Bhartiya-aligned education models supporting the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.

Avni Parmar

Applied Science and Waste Management

Avni believes that science is all around us—not just in textbooks, but in nature and daily life. She is passionate about sparking curiosity in children by helping them observe, explore, and enjoy science in meaningful ways. She also works closely with students to raise awareness about the waste crisis and encourages practical, sustainable solutions to protect the planet.

Adrika Anand

Maths Intern - Mukta Gat

I am Adrika Anand, a third year BSc Mathematics student at Fergusson College, Pune. I have a passion for maths and I believe every child can love maths if it is taught right. I love teaching and have taught 8th and higher grades for ICSE and CBSE boards in Ahmedabad. I have recently started working at Ileka as a maths teacher and I am very excited to learn and teach new things in my time here

Ulhas Tuscano

Conducting IT Sessions

Ever since I started working with them, I’ve been fascinated by how they work and what they can do. Programming allows me to bring the ideas in my mind to life—it's like speaking the language of computers to create something real. I constantly strive to improve my skills, especially by leveraging AI and the latest technologies. For me, computers are more than machines—they’re tools for creativity, innovation, and limitless learning.

Dhaval Patel

IT Assistance

Working as Technical Consultant with more than 20 years of Software Engineering experience.

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