Prayagraj: Ravindra Kumar Singh, a senior official of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s Bharwari Kendra in Uttar Pradesh, is set to retire from his service on March 31.
The centre, which houses Bhavan’s Mehta Vidyashram (BMV) and VS Mehta PG college, is spread over an area of over 100 acres.
Mr Singh is currently the incharge of this over 100 acre Estate, which is one of India’s largest (in terms of area) school campuses.
He has been serving the institution since last over 34 years, and has said in his farewell speech that he will be available to provide assistance to the management whenever required.
Located at a distance of 40 kms from the holy city of Prayagraj, the BMV campus or estate houses a CBSE affiliated boarding school, a PG College, a large cricket ground, two football grounds, two basketball courts, two badminton courts, one handball ground, two hostels, over 50 flats, a guest house and at least four bungalows among others structures. It also has a green area which is only being utilised for plantation purposes.
Mr Singh’s retirement is a crucial development as he is the last person in the institution who has been directly associated with the founders of this campus, which was established in 1965 by the Baldeoram Saligram Mehta Trust. His father, Late Thakur Rameshwar Singh – popularly known as Thakur Sahab, was the one who played crucial role in establishment of the campus.
Initially, in mid ‘60s, the PG College was established here by the trust, which was chaired by late Girdhari Lal Mehta, and later in 1976 the trust come up with the CBSE Boarding school.
It was under Thakur Sahab-led management that the institution (formerly known as Vallabhram Mehta Vidyashram) earned great fame not just across the country but also in the neighbouring nations.
Though it wasn’t easy to manage such a big institution as land mafias from time to time issued threats to Thakur Sahab, who held the Power of Attorney of the land, but courageous Thakur Sahab never worried about such threats and faced all the major challenges smoothly because of his strong personality and great social status.
Mr Singh, who learnt crucial management skills from his father, played key role in smooth functioning of the institution even after the Mehta Trust donated the estate to the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan.
Institution’s Director Sandeep Saxena and Principal Sanjay Srivastava, during Mr Singh’s farewell programme, appreciated his dedication towards the institution and asserted that the institution will seek advice and assistance from Mr Singh whenever required.
Principal of the PG College, Prabodh Srivastava, also appreciated the role of Mr Singh and his family in building the institution.
Local businessmen, academicians and prominent personalities, including politicians, have hailed Mr Singh’s contribution for the institution as well as the society at large.
It is worthy to mention here that Mr Singh and his family has four-generation of association with the Mehta Trust, which has also built a hospital in the town.
Mr Singh, during his farewell speech, recalled the contribution of Mehta family in building up several institutions across the country.
While talking about the Mehta Trust and the family, he prominently mentioned the names of Girdharilal Mehta, Harilal Mehta, Shrilal Mehta, Surenderlal Mehta, Shankar Lal Mehta, Madhavlal Mehta, Gaurilal Mehta, Damodarlal Mehta, and Keshavlal Mehta.
Mr Singh also appreciated role of Justice Palok Basu, who was the first Chairman of the Bharwari Kendra, and C.L. Gupta, the first Joint Secretary of the Kendra.
