Page 77 - EW Oct 2023
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are carefully nurtured by one teacher
         throughout their stay here with
         us. This ensures that his strengths
         and weaknesses and mental and
         emotional well-being are addressed
         by the tutor and his peers through
         his years in TDS. However, I am
         surprised by the low score awarded
         to us under the parameter of com-
         munity service because this is built
         into the DNA of the school ever since
         the first headmaster Arthur Foote
         set the objective of transforming
         students into an ‘aristocracy of ser-
         vice’. Contrary to public perception,
         cleanliness and hygiene on campus
         is maintained by student squads and
         they provide full scaffolding to seven
         socio-economically disadvantaged
         schools in our neighbourhood. I’m   Vidya Niketan’s principal Capt. Alokesh Sen (right): strong sports focus
         afraid your sample respondents
         misjudged us under this impor-     According to Capt. Alokesh     tradition. Thus we provide a whole-
         tant parameter,” says Dr. Jag-   Sen, principal of Vidya Niketan   some boarding school education
         preet Singh, an alum of Rajasthan   (Birla Public School — VNBPS), the   enhanced with traditional Indian
         University and former principal of   legendary G.D. Birla (1894-1983)   values. This is what attracts children
         the Punjab Public School, Nabha   founder of the Birla business empire   from the Indian diaspora around the
         (2011-2020), appointed headmaster   which spans pioneer firms in the   world to this school,” says Sen, an
         of TDS in 2020 after an experi-  jute, textiles, aluminum, and cement   alum of Sambalpur and Utkal uni-
         ment of appointing two expatriate   industries, was the first business   versities, who served in the Indian
         headmasters in succession proved   tycoon to venture into education   Navy (1984-2007), Services Selec-
         unsuccessful.                    to develop the country’s abundant   tion Board and as principal of the
           A notable feature of this year’s   human resource, and his heirs have   Sainik School, Amravatinagar (Tamil
         league table of India’s most admired   continued this tradition.   Nadu) and of the top-ranked Hyder-
         (non-vintage) boarding schools is the   “Apart from BITS-Pilani which   abad Public School, Begumpet, prior
         inclusion of five institutions promot-  with its five campuses has evolved   to his appointment as principal of
         ed by the Birla Group, a heavyweight   into India’s finest engineering uni-  VNBPS in 2011. Since then under his
         in Indian industry and business. The   versity, he also promoted the Birla   stewardship, the school has steadily
         relatively new Sarala Birla Acad-  Public School, Pilani — later   moved up the EW league table of
         emy, Bangalore (estb.2004) re-   renamed Vidya Niketan — modelled   boys boarding schools.
         tains its #2 2022-23 ranking, Vidya   on the Harrow School, UK, some   Beyond Top table, other schools
         Niketan (Birla Public School),   75 years ago. He spared no effort or   within the Top 10 which have risen
         Pilani (estb.1944) retains its #3   expense to design this school, calling   in esteem of the informed public
         rank, as does Birla Vidyamandir,   in Dr. Maria Montessori herself to   are the BAPS Swaminarayan,
         Nainital at #4 while the Birla   design and establish the primary   Vadodara, promoted to #8 (11),
         Centre for Education, Pune has   section. Today, the school, set in a   and the Ramakrishna Mission
         been promoted to #5 (6). That’s not   70-acre green campus in Pilani, pro-  Vidyapith, Deogarh (Jharkhand)
         all. The G.D. Birla Memorial     vides an excellent mix of fully-wired   ranked #13 this year.
         School, Ranikhet (UP) ranked #7   academic, co-curricular and sports   Quite clearly, against the politi-
         also retains its 2022-23 rank. In the   education. Contrary to public per-  cal backdrop of Hindu revivalism,
         girls boarding schools league table,   ception, we are strongly focused on   boarding schools offering tradi-
         the Birla Group’s Ashok Residen-  sports including equestrian sports of   tional values and so-called ‘swamiji’
         tial School, Ranikhet is ranked   high standard. Moreover our teams   schools are rising in the esteem of
         #15 (12). That’s quite a remarkable   regularly participate in the European   SEC (socio-economic category) ‘A’,
         record for a business group not well-  Cup handball tournaments and we   from whom the EW sample respon-
         known for boarding schools.      have a very strong adventure sports   dents are drawn.

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