Rajkot: Rashtriya Shala

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1921-2018

Nimesh Khakhariya, Bapu-founded school shuts as funds dry up, September 28, 2018: The Times of India

Students of Rashtriya Shala, which was considered one of the best in Rajkot once, have been forced to move to other institutes
From: Nimesh Khakhariya, Bapu-founded school shuts as funds dry up, September 28, 2018: The Times of India

97-YR-OLD INSTITUTE SHUTTERS AS INDIA READIES TO MARK GANDHI’S 150TH ANNIV

Even as PM Narendra Modi inaugurates the Gandhi museum at the Mahatma’s now-defunct alma mater on September 30, a school founded by the Father of the Nation in 1921 has been forced to shut its door on its students for lack of funds.

Ironically, the 97-yearold school, Rashtriya Shala, which was considered one of the best in the city once, is situated just 2 km away from the museum. Between 1970 and 2000, there were nearly 1,000 students enrolled here. However, the downfall began when donations to the managing body, Rashtriya Shala Trust (RST), began drying up. Only 37 students had remained in the 2017-18 academic year, and all of them were forced to take admission elsewhere when RST announces the school’s closure.

The school was started by Gandhiji to prepare students for Independence movement. The school’s Constitution was penned by Gandhiji, who often prayed in the school’s prayer hall and fasted here in 1939 during the freedom struggle. After returning from South Africa, Gandhiji felt that British education is the root of slavery and there was dire need to change the education system. Rashtriya Shala was the result of this thought and provided education in the regional language.

RST had published a booklet urging people and corporates to help save the historical institution. “We are not getting grants for the primary school and music school as per government norms. The institution requires Rs 25 to Rs 30 lakh per year to run its activities conducted on Gandhian thoughts,” read the booklet.

Managing trustee and general secretary of the school, Jitu Bhatt, told TOI: “We require Rs 8.30 lakh per year to run the school but we don’t have the funds. We had no option but to close school.” The trustees of Rashtriya Shala have written to chief minister Vijay Rupani seeking assistance. “We were even allotted a meeting time by the CM. But it has been postponed due to PM’s visit,” said Jitu Bhatt.