VIDYANIKETAN > History

HISTORY

The Inception

The History of the Vidyaniketan commences from a small school situated at a village named Babada about 35 kms north of Porbandar. This school was started by the teachers themselves who migrated from Ahmedabad to pursue the teachings to the eager students of their school in Ahmedabad, which got closed abruptly.


Bhaishri's dream comes true

At the request of the teachers of the school and the local people who took interest in the school, Bhaishri visited the school. He appreciated the efforts being made by the teachers and the locals in such difficult circumstances with meager funds at their disposal. Having accepted the trusteeship Bhaishri then decided to support the school, not only because the school needed support, but also because Bhaishri too had it in mind to take up such a task of educating students; those who are keen to gain knowledge of the Vedic system and those who would be capable of holding the flag high of the esteemed Indian cultural heritage.

Very soon thereafter Bhaishri was appointed the chairman of the trust running the school to take complete charge and to lend his vision for its fulfillment. Gradually, the pressure started increasing on the school and there were many more applicants than what the school could accommodate. Bhaishri decided that it was now the right time to adopt the school and relocate it in a larger area for its further development for it to be more constructive and useful to the student community.

Expansion of the Trust

After carefully selecting, Bhaishri appointed fifteen trustees to the trust named Shri Bhartiya Sanskruti Samvardhak Trust, which existed since the year 1984. The trust was given the entire responsibility for supporting and running the school. Despite this, the pressure was tremendous and Bhaishri decided that since the place was too small, it had to be set-up in a larger place.

Vidyaniketan - an educational institution

Having decided to choose another suitable place, Bhaishri made up his mind to set up a Vidyaniketan, which he emphasized, would be run like an Ashram and would be called RISHIKUL. This was the ancient way of imparting education in India. Life in the Vidyaniketan is self-dependent with set routines carried out with strict discipline. All his students will be called RISHIKUMARS, said Bhaishri, who, after having completed their studies from the Rishikul would become assets to society. Assets such as those, who knew not to ask but only to give. Bhaishri said, the motto of the Vidyaniketan would be "GYANARTH PRAVESH, SEVARATH PRASTHAN". This implies that a student would enter the school vowing to gain knowledge and would leave the school covenanted to be of service to mankind at large.

Relocation of the school

Bhaishri then approached the Government of Gujarat requesting for an adequate piece of land to set up this Vidyaniketan. Deeply concerned by the endeavor of Bhaishri, the Government of Gujarat was kind enough to allot 85 acres of land to the trust to set-up this Vidyaniketan at Porbandar, a town in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat State on the West Coast of India. It may be recalled that Porbandar is the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the Indian nation. Even Sudama, a childhood friend and a schoolmate of Lord Shri Krishna hailed from Porbunder. It is since then that the city gained its importance because of the devotion and faith of Sudama in his friend Lord Shri Krishna.