Ever consider on what basis a school or college should be called the best? Of course, the only measure of this can be that that educational institution imparted such values to its students due to which they later became better citizens and served the country and society. One measure of this could also be whether it (the educational institution) expanded itself? By extension, it means whether he opened any other branch and the teaching there was also excellent and of high standard. Of course, the name of St. Stephen’s College of Delhi has to be mentioned on this front. St. Stephen’s College was established by the Delhi Brotherhood Society, an org.zation of Gandhiji’s close associate Deenbandhu C.F.Andrews. Despite being a British citizen, Andrews was a supporter of India’s independence. He also taught at St. Stephen’s College. Now his college has expanded. It has not opened any other college.
In fact, now Delhi Brotherhood Society has opened St. Stephen’s Cambridge School in a rural area called Rai on the border of Delhi and Sonipat, Haryana. That means this school will spread the light of knowledge away from the glitter and glamor of cities and metros. Certainly this should be the aim of every educational institution. The better schools are opened in the villages of India, the better it will be. Now many schools, colleges and universities are opening in our big cities, but there is a need to open more and more schools in rural areas, which have quality faculty and all other facilities are also available there. More than 700 educational institutions in the country are making this effort in the last 140 years. DAV (full name – Dayanand Agro Vedic School and College) group, established by the great freedom fighter Lala Lajpat Rai in 1885, is an excellent example of the fact that work carried out with a spirit of service in the society can also be successful.
Just a few days ago, the results of the Union Public Service Examination (UPSC) were declared. All the media kept interviewing the successful candidates. Like previous years, this time too many students who studied from St. Stephen’s College in the capital cracked the UPSC exam. Anshul Bhatt, a student of St. Stephen’s College, took 14th position in the merit list. From World Bank President Ajay Banga to Reserve Bank of India President Shaktikanta Das have been alumni of St. Stephen’s College. India’s Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar has also studied from St. Stephen’s College. It has produced countless stars of the country. It is impossible to count them.
Chaudhary Chhotu Ram from the present state of Haryana also used to come to study at St. Stephen’s College in the early days. Later he became known as the messiah of the farmers. Even now the rural people of Haryana, Delhi and Western Uttar Pradesh consider Chaudhary Chhotu Ram as their messiah. See the coincidence that now his educational institution has knocked in his state. Obviously, the people of rural areas will also benefit from this.
If you ever go to Chandni Chowk in Delhi, you should not have any difficulty in finding Kinari Bazaar there. From there you can reach Katra Khushhal Rai in a few minutes. After reaching here, ask someone where was St. Stephen’s College? Someone or the other will tell you the path to that modest mansion from where the journey to St. Stephen’s College began on February 1, 1881. It was then part of Calcutta University. Looking at the first building of St. Stephen’s College located in Chandni Chowk, Delhi, no one can imagine that the St. Stephen’s College started from here will touch great heights. The journey which started more than 140 years ago has now expanded. St. Stephen’s Cambridge has opened. It is important that the Brotherhood of the Ascended Christ was established in Delhi in 1877. It is related to Cambridge University. It later changed its name to Delhi Brotherhood Society. He also established St. Stephen’s Hospital in the capital. After the partition of the country, this hospital provided the best treatment to lakhs of Hindu and Sikh refugees who came looted from across the border.
One thing is very clear that it is very important for quality education to be accessible to all. For this, it is necessary that educational institutions established for years and decades should expand rapidly. They should also turn to the rural areas of the country. Provide quality and affordable education there. Opening a school or college should not be based on filling one’s own pockets. Those who are earning big money in the name of education are really insulting Mother Saraswati. Here I want to mention Braj Krishna Chandiwala, the supreme disciple of Mahatma Gandhi. Chandiwala met Gandhiji for the first time in 1918. Then Gandhiji had just come to Delhi. After that he remained with Gandhiji as his disciple throughout his life. He also conducted the last bath of Gandhiji’s mortal remains on the night of January 31, 1948. Braj Krishna Chandiwala had established Janaki Devi College in the capital in 1959 in the name of his mother and social worker Smt. Janaki Devi. This college has so far made an unprecedented contribution in making lakhs of daughters literate.
It would be appropriate to discuss Indraprastha Hindu Girls School here. This girls school of the capital was started in 1904. It is considered to be one of the first girls’ schools in North India. Kamla Nehru, famous sarod player Sharan R. Bakliwal, Kapila Vatsayan etc. had studied here. The management of this school opened Indraprastha College in the capital which has recently completed its 100 years of journey. How can it be that educationist and philanthropist Rai Kedarnath, founder of Ramjas College, one of the oldest colleges of Delhi University, is left out of mention. He established Ramjas College and several schools in the name of his father Lala Ramjas Mal. Rai Kedarnath was also the session judge of Delhi. He left his job and devoted his life to spreading the light of knowledge. It is said that he used to carry bricks on his head while constructing his school buildings. Children from all over the country come to study in Ramjas College and Schools. A school is also run here by Delhi University. It is located in the university campus itself. She celebrated her 75th birthday some time ago. How good would it be if Delhi University runs a school in a rural area.
