Suryakantbhai Chimanlal Parikh, who was born in the town of Patan in North Gujarat on April 23, 1922, was warmly remembered on the occasion of his birth centenary this year, with a special tribute being made by Vidyamandir, the institution which he steered to great heights.  
 

His father was a well-respected teacher and a social worker, and his mother too was a devoted social worker, who used to work for the upliftment of women and Suryakantbhai studied in Patan and Poona, completing his M. Ed in 1948. 
 

He immediately entered the educational sphere and was soon promoted as Principal of a school in the city, quickly winning praise and even awards for his exemplary ideas and work.
 

In 1959-60, Kantilal Chhotalal (Kanubhai), founder of Shree Palanpur Shishushala Balmandir and Education Trust (now called Vidyamandir Trust), on a trip to Pune, met Suryakantbhai and invited him to come to Palanpur. In Suryakantbhai, he found as the ideal person, possessing the vision and foresight to enrich and implement the dreams Kanubhai had for this institution.
 

Together, they sculpted Vidyamandir into a true temple of learning. Suryakantbhai ushered in many innovative changes in Vidyamandir which enhanced the standard of education in Palanpur and North Gujarat. He combined modern and traditional systems of education in a holistic manner.  
 

Suryakantbhai’s dearest project was Mamtamandir, established to provide free education to all kinds of specially-abled children to empower them to lead an independent life with dignity. He also pioneered an integrated system where many of the specially-abled children became part of the regular school.
 

His outstanding contributions in the field of education won him many awards from the central and state governments as well as NGOs too.

Click here to view tribute paid by VMT