Prayagraj: Ravindra Kumar Singh, senior officer of Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan’s Bharwari Center in Uttar Pradesh, is going to retire from his service on March 31.
The centre, which houses Bhawan’s Mehta Vidyashram (BMV) and VS Mehta PG College, is spread over an area of over 100 acres.
Mr. Singh is currently in charge of this over 100-acre estate, which is one of the largest (in terms of area) school campuses in India.
He has been serving the organization for the past 34 years, and in his farewell speech said that he would be available to provide assistance to the management whenever required.
Located at a distance of 40 kilometers from the holy city of Prayagraj, the BMV campus or estate has a CBSE affiliated boarding school, a PG college, a big cricket ground, two football grounds, two basketball courts, two badminton courts, a handball ground and a cricket field. , two hostels, over 50 flats, a guest house and at least four bungalows among other structures. It also has a green area which is being used only for tree plantation.
Mr Singh’s retirement is a significant development as he is the last person in the institute directly associated with the founders of the complex, which was established in 1965 by the Baldevram Shaligram Mehta Trust. His father, Late Thakur Rameshwar Singh – popularly known as Thakur Sahib, was instrumental in setting up the campus.
Initially, in the mid-60s, a PG college was established here by the trust, headed by late Girdhari Lal Mehta, and later in 1976 the trust came up with a CBSE boarding school.
It was under the management headed by Thakur Sahab that the institution (earlier known as Vallabharam Mehta Vidyashram) gained immense fame not only across the country but also in the neighboring countries.
Though it was not easy to run such a big institution as the land mafia threatened from time to time to Thakur Sahab who was holding the Power of Attorney of the land, but the courageous Thakur Sahab never bothered about such threats and faced all the major challenges. faced. smoothly because of his strong personality and great social status.
Mr. Singh, who learned important management skills from his father, was instrumental in the smooth functioning of the institution even after the Mehta Trust donated the property to Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan.
Sandeep Saxena, Director of the institute and Sanjay Srivastava, Principal, during the farewell program of Mr. Singh appreciated his dedication towards the institute and said that the institute would seek advice and assistance from Mr. Singh whenever required.
Principal of PG College Prabodh Srivastava also appreciated the role played by Mr. Singh and his family in building the institute.
Prominent personalities including local businessmen, educationists and politicians have appreciated Mr. Singh’s contribution to the institution as well as to the society.
It is worth mentioning here that Mr. Singh and his family have an association of four generations with the Mehta Trust, which has also built a hospital in the town.
Mr Singh, during his farewell speech, recalled the contribution of the Mehta family in building several institutions across the country.
Talking about the Mehta Trust and the family, he prominently named Girdharilal Mehta, Harilal Mehta, Srilal Mehta, Surendralal Mehta, Shankar Lal Mehta, Madhavlal Mehta, Gaurilal Mehta, Damodarlal Mehta and Keshavlal Mehta.
Mr. Singh also appreciated the role of Justice Alok Basu, who was the first chairman of the Bharwari Centre, and C.L. Gupta, the first joint secretary of the Centre.