Dipak Jain addresses the function

The exceptional work undertaken by the Vidyamandir Trust in the field of education over the last six decades received a lot of praise from Dipak Jain, Dean of INSEAD, one of the world’s most prestigious business schools based in Paris and Praful Patel, Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises. They were speaking at a gala function held at the Kanubhai Mehta Sanskrutik Bhavan in Palanpur on January 15 to mark the Diamond Jubilee of the Trust. While Jain was the Chief Guest, Patel presided over the event.

Sixty years after it was set up Kantilal Chhotalal ‘Kanubhai’ Mehta as a small initiative to boost primary education in the city of the Palanpur, the Trust has expanded into a reputed educational institution. Its activities are spread over fourteen campuses, encompass 124 institutions, and bring together over six thousand children from varied backgrounds, and with different needs. The Trust has a staff of over 400 persons.

Minister Patel stressed that education was a crucial weapon in the hands of those who wanted society to develop, and it is the “power of knowledge” which has transformed India in the last two decades. “If an Indian is given the right environment and nurturing, he is capable of competing with the best of the world.”

Arunbhai Mehta speaks on the occasion

Describing Vidyamandir as a “Centre of Excellence” which has played a crucial role in transforming the district of Banaskantha, he said India could become even more powerful if “there was one Vidyamandir in each of the 600 districts across the country.”

In a thought-provoking presentation, Jain said that history had advanced from colonialism, when countries were all powerful, to capitalism, where companies became omnipotent in free market competition, till today, the 21st century which was the century of human capital, where it is visionary individuals who can trigger change.

“In the contemporary world, there is no contribution more important that imparting education,” he said showering praise on the Vidyamandir Trust for its exemplary work in this field. “People are the key resource in value creation,” and “Values are more valuable than other valuables,” he added.

(Click here to view video of Dipak Jain's presentation)

Cultural programme by students

Earlier Trust Chairman Arunbhai R. Mehta gave the Welcome Address and Managing Trustee Ashish K. Mehta made a brief presentation on ‘60 Years of Vidyamandir’. The guests, along with the donors lit traditional lamps to invoke blessings on the new buildings and other initiatives that had been inaugurated at the Vidyamandir campus the previous day.

Click here to view presentation on 'Journey of 60 Years of Vidyamandir')

A highlight of the morning function was a set of excellent cultural performances by the students of the various institutions. This began with a dance based on Hollywood hit “The Sound of Music”, superbly presented by the students of the English medium school. It was followed by a Rajasthani Folk Dance presented  by the differently-abled students of Mamtamandir and ‘Mava tari morli’, a Raas was performed by the students of the Gujarati medium school. The programme culminated with an enthralling display of Rope Yoga and Malkhamb by the students of the Gujarati medium school.

Vidyamandir's Diamond Jubilee Celebrations Videos

Video 1         Video 2    Video 3

Vidyamandir's Diamond Jubilee Celebrations Album

Click here to view the Album