On what basis should a school or college be called excellent? Of course, the sole measure of this can be whether that educational institution has instilled such values in its students that they go on to become better citizens and serve the country and society. Another measure could be whether it (the educational institution) has expanded. By expansion, it means whether it has opened any branches and whether the standard there has also been excellent and high-quality.
Undoubtedly, on this front, the name of St. Stephen's College, Delhi, has to be taken.St. Stephen's College was established by the Delhi Brotherhood Society, an organization of Gandhiji's close associate, Deenabandhu C.F. Andrews. C.F. Andrews, despite being a British citizen, was a supporter of India's independence. He also taught at St. Stephen's College. Now his college has expanded. It has not opened any other college.
Actually, now the Delhi Brotherhood Society has opened St. Stephen's Cambridge School in a rural area called Rai on the border of Delhi and Sonipat in Haryana. This means that this school will spread the light of knowledge away from the glitz and glamour of cities and metropolises. Surely this should be the goal of every educational institution. The more good schools open in the villages of India, the better it will be. Now, many schools, colleges, and universities are opening in our big cities, but there is a need to open more and more schools in rural areas, which have quality faculty and all other facilities available there.
A few days ago, the results of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examination were declared. The entire media kept interviewing the successful candidates. Like in previous years, this time too, many students from St. Stephen's College of the capital cracked the UPSC exam. Anshul Bhatt, a student of St. Stephen's College, secured the 14th position in the merit list. From World Bank President Ajay Banga to Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das, all hail from St. Stephen's College. India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has also studied at St. Stephen's College. It has produced countless stars from the former President of the country, Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed to ex President of Pakistan, Zia Ul Haq. It is impossible to count them.
Chhotu Ram and St. Stephen's
In the early days of St. Stephen's College, Chaudhary Chhotu Ram also used to come from the present day Haryana to study in Delhi. He later became known as the messiah of farmers. Even now, the rural population of Haryana, Delhi, and western Uttar Pradesh consider Chaudhary Chhotu Ram as their messiah. See the coincidence that now his educational institution has knocked in his state. Obviously, the people of the rural area will also benefit from this.
History of St. Stephen's College
If you ever go to Chandni Chowk in Delhi, then you should have no difficulty in finding Kinari Bazaar there. From there you can reach Katra Khushal Rai in a few minutes. After reaching here, ask someone where St. Stephen's College was? Someone or the other will tell you the way to that ordinary mansion from where the journey of St. Stephen's College started on 1 February 1881. It was then a part of Calcutta University. Looking at the first building of St. Stephen's College located in Chandni Chowk, Delhi, no one can even think that St. Stephen's College, which started from here, will start touching the heights. The journey that started more than 140 years ago has now expanded. St. Stephen's Cambridge has opened.
According to Brother Solomon George of Delhi Brother Society, “It is important to know that the Brotherhood of the Ascended Christ was established in Delhi in 1877. It is related to Cambridge University. It later changed its name to the Delhi Brotherhood Society. It also established St. Stephen's Hospital in the capital. After the partition of the country, this hospital had treated lakhs of Hindu and Sikh refugees who came looted and beaten from across the border. ”
Importance of Accessible Quality Education
One thing is very clear that it is very important to make quality education accessible to all. For this, it is necessary that educational institutions established for years and decades should expand rapidly. They should turn to the rural areas of the country. Provide quality and affordable education there. The basis for opening a school or college should not be to fill your pockets. Those who are earning a lot in the name of education are truly insulting Mother Saraswati.
Examples of Philanthropic Education Initiatives
I would like to mention here the name of Brij Krishna Chandiwala, a close disciple of Mahatma Gandhi. Chandiwala met Gandhiji for the first time in 1918. Then Gandhiji had come to Delhi. After that, he remained with Gandhiji as his lifelong disciple. He also gave the last bath to Gandhiji's body on the night of 31 January 1948. Brij Krishna Chandiwala established Janaki Devi College in the capital in 1959 in the name of his mother and social worker Smt. Janaki Devi Ji. This college has made an unprecedented contribution in making lakhs of girls literate till now.
It would be appropriate to discuss Indraprastha Hindu Girls School here. This girls' college of the capital started in 1904. It is considered to be one of the first girls' colleges in North India.
Kamla Nehru, famous sarod player Sharan Rani Backliwal, Kapila Vatsyayan etc. had studied in this. The management of this school itself opened Indraprastha College in the capital, which has recently completed its 100-year journey.
How can it be that the founder of Ramjas College, one of the oldest colleges of Delhi University, educationist and philanthropist Rai Kedar Nath, is left out? He established Ramjas College and many schools in the name of his father Lala Ramjas Mal. Rai Kedar Nath was also a Sessions Judge of Delhi. He left his job and dedicated his life to spreading the light of knowledge. It is said that he himself used to carry bricks on his head during the construction of the buildings of his schools. Children from all over the country come to study in Ramjas College and schools.
A school is also run by Delhi University. It is in the university campus itself. He celebrated his 75th anniversary some time ago. How nice it would be if a school was run by Delhi University in some rural area.
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