Page 14 - Dr Chenraj Roychand

Eduleader

bytes

You quit a successful career in business to promote Sri Bhagawan Mahaveer Jain College in 1990. What were the
factors behind the switch to education?
After achieving success in the textiles distribution business, I wanted to do something in education to empower
children and youth with the skills to pursue successful careers. Therefore, in 1990 I promoted the Shri Bhagawan Ma-
haveer Jain College to provide contemporary, technology-intensive, values-based education to students to prepare
them to emerge as industry, business and society leaders of the 21st century.

Subsequently, you promoted the Jain International Residential School, Jain (Deemed-to-be University) and other
education institutions. Currently is higher or K-12 education your prime focus?
For us, foundational early childhood and primary education is as important as empowering youth with employable
and entrepreneurial skills to contribute to national development.

What are the distinguishing features of JGI education institutions?
In JGI institutions we believe in delivering outcomes, projects-based and market-related education which prepares
children and youth for employment. Our curriculums develop children’s critical thinking, reasoning and communica-
tion skills combined with human values and all-round personality development.

JIRS is distinguished by its focus on sports/extra-curricular activities and provision of state-of-the-art infrastruc-
ture. What would you say is the most significant impact of JIRS on primary-secondary education?
We believe in providing holistic education with a special focus on sports training. Most of our students come from
business families and we want to train them to be ready for the hard work that entrepreneurship calls for. Therefore, in
JIRS students have to compulsorily participate in sports activities and receive rigorous army-style training which also
develops character and values. Our mantra is to provide modern education rooted in human values.

Thinker/philosopher you admire the most.
Swami Vivekananda and Dhirubhai Ambani.

Your leadership style.
Affiliative leadership — approachable and empowering.

Your favourite book on education.
Books by Swami Vivekananda and The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand.

How satisfied are you with the growth and development of JGI?
We are only at the beginning of a long journey. It takes three to four decades to build a strong foundation of any or-
ganisation. Over the next ten years we will complete building a strong foundation for all JGI institutions.

What are your future plans?
JIRS has redefined primary-secondary education by giving equal emphasis to academic, sports and co-curricular edu-
cation. Moreover, in higher education, we are the first to promote entrepreneurship education. My goal is to incubate
8,800 small and medium business enterprises over the next ten years.

216 | 21 Leaders Transforming Indian Education