In Episode 6 of Where Passion Meets Education (WPME), Sandeep Dutt engages in a heartfelt conversation with Amit Sachdeva. Together, they delve into the profound significance of service in education and the enduring wisdom of Gandhi's teachings. Their discussion revolves around the vital task of integrating these principles into the schooling fabric. Often hailed as the CSR Man Of India, Amit fervently advocates for businesses to embody empathy and actively contribute to the welfare of society. The timeless message of Mahatma Gandhi's 18 teachings and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is a guiding light, inspiring us to foster a more compassionate and sustainable world.

Key Takeaways

* Service is the essence of schooling, emphasising giving, sharing, and community-building.

* Schooling should prioritise holistic development over academic focus, incorporating 17 SDGs and 18 Gandhian principles.

* Passion-driven education leads to better human development and societal contribution.

* Schools must actively involve students in service activities and address biases to create a more inclusive learning environment.

Gandhi's Influence and Service-Oriented Education

* Gandhi's teachings emphasise service, giving, love, justice, equality, and self-reliance.

* Schools should focus on "schooling" rather than just being institutions.

* Service is the first step in schooling, teaching children to share and be part of a community.

* Amit Sachdeva highlighted as an example of carrying Gandhi's message to a large audience.

Integrating Service into School Curriculum

* Introduce weekly classes on compassion and giving.

* Involve students with non-profit organisations, corporate foundations, and charitable trusts.

* Engage students in environmental activities (tree planting, learning about biodiversity).

* Address teaching biases and promote gender equality in classrooms.

* Connect students with underprivileged peers to broaden their worldview.

Passion as a Fuel for Education and Life

* Importance of identifying and nurturing children's passions early.

* Amit shared his journey of finding purpose through media, CSR, and Gandhian principles.

* Emphasised the need to simplify life and focus on giving back to society.

* Continuous learning highlighted (Amit pursuing further education in law and environment).

Creating a Culture of Service in Schools

* Implement the 17 Sustainable Development Goals and 18 Gandhian constructive programs.

* Focus on reading, reflection, and building relationships as core aspects of schooling.

* Please encourage students to think beyond their immediate circle and consider global issues.

* Prepare students to be responsible leaders in their future careers, considering sustainable practices.

For more about Amit Sachdeva visit:

https://www.amitsachdeva.com/

Join us at My Good School and spend a day with Amit and the students of My Good School: https://schooleducation.com/my-good-school-retreat

Good Schools India Journal is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Happiness unplugged 🎉, Oshi, Simar, Sai Kiran, Anoushka, and Rishona are back with a beautiful tribute to their much loved My Good School #JoyOfLearning. Where passion meets education #MyGoodSchool.

We are celebrating our 3rd birthday 🎉 . Why not send us a gift? We are sharing the Payment Link for sending a gift to the Learning Forward India 🇮🇳 Foundation #JoyOfLearning Fund.

Use this link to enter the amount and pay securely via Razorpay: https://razorpay.me/@learningforwardindia

🙏😍📖

The story of our 1st Birthday in 2022:

Life is a journey with problems to solve, lessons to learn, but, most of all, experiences to share and experiences to enjoy. We at My Good School come here today to celebrate our learnings and lessons as a beautiful year passes. Join us in celebrating our school as we laugh at Totto-chan’s tactics, learn from Swami’s mistakes, realise the road from the Art of Focus, and improve from each session hereafter.

Anvesha Rana and Simar Kaur - Hosts from Gyanshree School; Rishona Chopra, Yashraj Sharma and Vani Pandey - Gyanshree School; Arav Agarwal, Billabong High International School Thane; Arfa Khan, Shambhavi Nautiyal - Ahlcon Public School; Reveda Bhatt, The Aryan School; Kunal Rajpurohit from The Fabindia School; and our Mentors Sandeep Sir and Jugjiv Sir. Comment below and let us know if you liked our podcast.

If you want to participate in similar podcasts, join us. That’s all for us today. Thanks for tuning in. Enjoy our shows on www.LearningForwardPodcast.com. You will love the stories our students, teachers, and passionate educators share. Listen to the episode:

Yes, there is a lovely story for 2nd Birthday 🎉 !

Check out the video of the Celebrations:

https://vimeo.com/mygoodschool/birthday

Good Schools India Journal is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Episode 5 of Where Passion Meets Education (WPME). Sandeep Dutt in conversation with Naga Prasad Tummala (NP). The podcast celebrates the life and legacy of Shomie Das, an influential educator, through the lens of Naga Tummala’s experiences and book.

Key Takeaways

* Shomie Das profoundly impacted education in India, touching numerous schools throughout his life.

* Naga Tummala and his partner Raj Yarlgadda built Oakridge International School with Shomie Das’s guidance, focusing on child-centred education.

* Trust, relationships, and adapting to new technologies in education were emphasised.

What we talked about:

Shomie Das’s Legacy

* Described as a visionary who could “see tomorrow” in education.

* He impacted 80+ schools throughout his 80+ year life.

* Mentored Naga Tummala and influenced the creation of Oakridge International School.

Naga Tummala’s Journey

* I moved from a small town to a city then to a metropolis to pursue educational aspirations.

* Co-founded Oakridge International School with long-time friend Raj Yarlagadda.

* Wrote a book about Shomie Das, celebrating 25 years of his influence.

Critical Principles for School Management

* Keep children at the centre of all decisions and actions.

* Create a happy organisation where teachers can thrive.

* Be clear about the school’s mission (profit vs. charity) to avoid contradictions.

Child-Centered Education at Oakridge

* Removed prescribed textbooks to encourage exploration.

* We implemented internet-connected classrooms as early as 2001.

* We are focused on learning from the environment and hands-on experiences.

Teacher Recruitment and Development

* Prioritised passion for teaching and love for children over experience.

* We recruited younger teachers with high enthusiasm and learning ability.

* They provided freedom for teachers to develop their teaching methods.

Parent Involvement

* We viewed parents as “volunteers on the ground” (50 volunteers for 25 students).

* Established daily communication systems between teachers and parents.

* Emphasised emotional connection and shared interest in student success.

Future of Education

* Currently working on AI-enhanced learning solutions to empower teachers.

* Recognising the shift towards students and teachers being equal learners.

* Adapting to new technologies while maintaining human connections.

Next Steps

* Readers are encouraged to obtain Naga Tummala’s book about Shomie Das.

* Continue exploring and implementing child-centred education principles.

* Adapt educational practices to incorporate new technologies like AI.

* Maintain focus on trust, relationships, and emotional connections in education.

The story of the life and times of one of the finest educationists of modern India.

Good Schools India Journal is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Linkedin Profile of Naga Tummala“To build a school is to build a civilisation; with technology, a school can be accessible anywhere, anytime.”

This motto underscores the visionary approach of Naga Tummala, the co-founder and CEO of Coschool www.coschool.ai, a generative AI-powered, comprehensive learning system that empowers schools.Naga’s journey in education began over 30 years ago as the co-founder and chairman of the People Combine group, which founded Oakridge International Schools. He is also one of the co-founders of FICCI ARISE and a key strategic brand behind its rise to significance. People Combine was acclaimed as one of India’s top 15 workplaces in 2019 by Great Places to Work and The Economic Times and was recognised among India’s top 10 for working women in 2016 and 2017 by Avatar and Working Mother Group. In 2019, its divestment from Oakridge set a precedent as India’s largest FDI in education. As a socially conscious individual, Naga pledged to donate one-third of his net worth to philanthropy.

* The video recording of the podcast is available on vimeo.

In August 2020, I recoreded a podcast with Shomie, tune in here: