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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.

OCTOBER 2023 EDUCATIONWORLD 77