Coming Home: Kuhu Kalode ‘17 Returns to KIS

When Kuhu Kalode (Class of 2017) walked back through the gates of Kodaikanal International School this summer, it wasn't simply a return to her old school.

"It felt like I never left," she says. "At the same time, it feels like a lifetime ago because so much has happened. But everyone has been so warm. It honestly just feels like home."

That feeling of home is something Kuhu speaks about often. In fact, it began before she had even enrolled.

Growing up in Nagpur, Kuhu knew she wanted something different from the traditional educational path that surrounded her. "I always knew I wanted to travel the world, meet all sorts of people and do things differently," she says. "When I visited different schools around India, they all had something to offer. But when I walked through the gates of KIS, I just had this feeling: *I'm home.* I still can't explain why."

Looking back now, she believes it was the school's philosophy that drew her in. "I felt that KIS understood education wasn't just about grades. It was about raising a whole person — mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. That was the environment I wanted to grow up in." Over the next four years, Kuhu embraced every opportunity she could. She explored new subjects, learned from teachers from around the world, developed her love of music and discovered the confidence to step outside her comfort zone. "The academics were important, but what I really gained was growth as a person," she reflects. "Those four years were some of the best years of my life. I still talk about KIS to anyone who'll listen." That openness would become one of the defining themes of her journey after graduation. 

She initially moved to Canada to study Media Studies before realising it wasn't the right path. Rather than continuing simply because it was expected, she made the difficult decision to change direction, transferring to the UK to study Broadcast Journalism. Then the pandemic changed everything.

Returning to India unexpectedly, she found herself quarantining at her family's farmhouse — an experience she initially resisted. "I thought, 'How am I going to survive here?' But after a few days, everything changed." Living close to nature gave her time to slow down and ask bigger questions.  "Why do we live the way we do? What are we actually working towards? What does a meaningful life look like?" Those reflections eventually became KAVA, a youth village she is now building around four principles: Knowledge, Adventure, Values and Abundance. It is a place where young people can gather, question, learn and reconnect with nature, community and themselves.

Listening to Kuhu describe KAVA, it quickly becomes clear that many of its foundations were planted years earlier in Kodaikanal.

"Looking back now, I realise KIS planted so many seeds in me," she says. "My love for nature. Living in a community. The warmth between people. The values. I didn't realise it then, but now I can clearly see how much this place shaped the way I think."

She believes the school's influence extends far beyond the classroom.

"KIS isn't just a school. It's an environment. You don't just study here — you build your character, your mindset, lifelong friendships and a real sense of community."

Perhaps the strongest lesson she carried with her was the confidence to remain curious. "KIS taught me to stay open, to keep exploring and to put myself out there. That's how my journey here began, and it's how I've tried to live ever since."

That spirit of openness is what brought her back this summer to Experience KIS. After discovering the programme online, Kuhu immediately recognised its potential. "I thought it was such a wonderful opportunity because not everyone gets to experience life at KIS. Then I caught myself thinking... I wish I could experience KIS again." Returning as part of the Experience KIS team felt like the perfect way to reconnect while giving something back to a place that had given her so much. "I've always wanted to find ways to contribute. This felt like the first step in what I hope will be a lifelong relationship with KIS."

Watching students discover campus through fresh eyes has only reinforced what she always believed made the school special. "They're not just experiencing the school — they're experiencing the culture, the people and this incredible place. Yesterday we visited a local farm, and seeing them connect with the farmers and the community reminded me that learning happens everywhere."

Throughout our conversation, one idea surfaces again and again: belonging. For Kuhu, KIS isn't simply somewhere she once studied. It's a community she continues to carry with her wherever life leads.

"I know I'll always have a place to come home to."

It's a powerful sentiment — one that captures what so many alumni describe but few articulate so beautifully. As Kuhu continues building KAVA and creating spaces where young people can learn, grow and find purpose, it's clear that she isn't leaving KIS behind. Instead, she's carrying its values forward, creating new communities inspired by the one that first welcomed a 13-year-old girl searching for something different.

And perhaps that's the greatest testament to a KIS education.

Long after students leave the campus, the campus never really leaves them.

To connect with Kuhu, please reach out to her through the following –

Website : www.kavaconnect.com
Instagram: @kavaconnect, @connectwithkuhu