Pratap Bhogilal Journey Through Life

Author(s): Rauf Ahmed
Publisher: Bhupendra Singh Anand

Page 81

THE JOURNEY
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Siddhraj and Kumarpal was considered phenomenal. He is credited with Gujarat's culture as it prevails today. Patan was said to be a very flourishing city in those days and was the capital of that part of Western India.
North Gujarat Education Society was conceived by Bapaji and C.J. Shah of Patan. Today the Society has become a huge complex thanks to the efforts of many donors, especially those from Patan now settled in Mumbai. It has colleges for arts, science, law, commerce, bio-chemistry, bio-technology and teachers' training and management. Recently, an international English medium public school was started there. It is extraordinary that so many natives of Patan, who are now settled in Mumbai, should continue to feel so strongly for their ancestral city! This
ea of 35 acres and has around 10,000 students in the complex.
Reconnecting with Sanjeewan Vidyalaya
Sanjeewan Vidyalaya, which used to be called Hindu High School earlier when I was a boarder there, had been started by the Pandit brothers:KRV Pandit (Keshakaka), M.V.Pandit (Rao Saheb, the Principal) and Babukaka (superintendent of the hostel). Around 1960, Rao Saheb asked me to join the school's Board of trustees and I agreed. From 1960 to 2000, the school developed and expanded considerably. The laboratories, the playgrounds, the school and hostel buildings were expanded and a swimming pool was built. Funds for all these came by way of donations, loans and fees.
After being associated with the school for 40 years, I resigned in 2000, but I continue to visit it at least once a year when I go to Mahableshwar.
Sanjeewan Vidyalaya Trust had been going through a bad patch after | resigned as a Trustee in 2000. In late September 2009, two of the Trustees and the Chairman of the Sanjeewan Vidyalaya Trust requested me to look into the functioning of the Institution which I agreed to do as a labour of love on the condition that they would accept all my recommendations regarding the functioning to which they agreed. As such, after three days
The worst vice of the fanatic is his sincerity. - Oscar Wilde