Beena Mehul Parekh

Beena Mehul Parekh is the founder and principal of Harmony Montessori, established in Mumbai in January 1999. With over 27 years in Montessori education, she has dedicated her professional life to understanding child development and creating environments that support the natural growth of children.

Her professional journey began in accounts and finance, working in her husband's company. After becoming a mother, she devoted her time to raising her daughter while conducting classes in art, craft, general knowledge and yoga for children. Her interest in education took a more definite direction when, while settling her daughter into school, she spent time observing the classroom. This experience awakened a deep interest in working with children and eventually led her to Montessori education.

Beena holds an AMI 3–6 Diploma from RTI and has undertaken AMI orientation courses across all subsequent developmental stages, including 0–3 at Navadisha, 6–12 at MIB, and 12–18 at Hershey, USA. Her commitment to understanding human development extends beyond Montessori education to studies in psychotherapy, hypnotherapy, Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), neurotherapy, play therapy, metaphor therapy, Pranic Healing and child development at PTRC. She has also completed a course in parenting from Oxford.

Central to Beena's understanding of Montessori education is the interconnectedness of learning. She sees the Montessori environment as one in which mathematical understanding, language, movement, sensory exploration and practical life develop in relation to one another rather than as isolated subjects. She remains particularly fascinated by the scientific precision of Montessori materials, their engagement of multiple senses and the process of normalisation through which children develop concentration, independence and self-discipline.

Even after nearly three decades in education, she continues to find new depth in Dr Maria Montessori's work, particularly in the remarkable understanding of human development that informed the creation of the Montessori method within a single lifetime.

As Principal of Harmony Montessori, Beena oversees the school's Nido, Toddler and Primary environments, guiding its educational philosophy, pedagogical practices and the development of its teaching community. Her work reflects a longstanding commitment to Montessori principles and a belief in education as a means of supporting the development of the whole human being.