"Education for protection and security of the world," and "School is the lighthouse of society," were the powerful quotes clearly emphasized by Dr. Jagdish Gandhi, a visionary, an Indian educator and founder of the City Montessori School at Lucknow, India, in a special lecture-forum held at the SFAC Main Campus Conference Room last November 24, 2011.
He further expounded on the three unexplored fields of Balanced Education, Progressively Revealed Religion and Law, Order and Justice. That Balanced Education refers to the balance of the total quality person (TQP) and the Total quality manager (TQM). That in the Progressively Revealed Religion, there is a need for the schools to impart "Spiritual Education, " and that in the Law, Order and Justice, all laws should be enacted and interpreted according to the exigencies of social needs of the time to award justice.
The comprehensive lecture with video presentation was attended by the administrators, principals, teachers and students. Dr. Gandhi was accompanied by Mr. Raj Shekhar Chandola, Advisor to Dr. Gandhi on Peace Education and Mr. Shishir Srivastava, Head of the Personality Development and Career Counselling (PDCC) Department and Head, World Movement for Rights of Children (WMFRC).
Dr. Gandhi's mission is widely bruited through his works cited from India to Netherlands, UK, USA, Japan, France, Australia and the Philippines. He has written hundreds of articles about Spiritual Education, Divine Education, Divine Civilization, Healing Touch of Prayer, Know God and End Sorrow, Divine Wisdom and God Gives Strength to Face Odds of Life, to mention a few.
He has also written many books on Meditation, Earth is One Family and Way to Salvation among others. He has daily talks on Education and Spirituality on national and international TV Channels, has organized film festivals, has addressed World Unity Congregation (Satsang) and has received numerous distinctions and awards. Some of these are: Certificate of Guinness World Records since 1999 for having the world’s largest school in a city, Bandaranaike Global Excellence Award, Sri Lanka, 2007 and Life Achievement Award for Services to Education, 2011.
Submitted by:
Maripel C. Ditapat
Chair, OSA
"Converting the tunnel of learning into a process of enlightenment - Dr. Jagdish Gandhi, a true visionary in the field of education, is a Founder-Manager of City Montessori School (Lucknow, UP, India), an educator, a writer and recipient of different awards internationally. This idealistic man shares with us his aspirations- in creating a new mindset in children and youth, through balanced educations with the help of meaningful education, progressively revealed religion-schools need to impart 'spiritual education' and law, order and justice. His journey- beginning with just five children and after five decades of laborious works and trials into a school with a population of more than thirty thousand ( 30,000 ) enrollees. His prayers- for forgiveness and peace to all. That will lead human transformation into unity and security.
The school administrators, teachers and students were grateful of his visit in our beloved school- Saint Francis of Assisi College last November 24, 2011. It was a blessing indeed in our part to meet personally Dr. Jagdish Gandhi, a man highly acclaimed in the field of education and a peacemaker. It is also a blessing to listen to his inspiring story and words of wisdom. His story is a great challenge for our educators to impart knowledge to children and youth with love hoping that someday these new generations will become a good leader and citizens of our nations and the whole world. For us, students and future educators, it inspires us to be more responsive to the call of our teachers in empowering us with knowledge and wisdom in our chosen field.
As the school is the lighthouse of society, so is the teacher, the bearer of the torch that keeps the house lighted so that the children and youth as they walk in their respective paths will not falter or go astray…
Written by:
Sr. Renee P. Manatad
BEED-II
