Memorial Meeting for Shri. Vajubhai Patel (1914-2013) 24-9-2013 at GSB

Down the memory Lane

Dr. Kamalben Arvind Patankar, Ex-President, (Indian Council of Basic Education)
Ex-Principal, Gandhi Shikshan Bhavan’s Smt. Surajba College of Education, Mumbai

Long back, about thirty eight years ago, one morning I woke up trying to repicturise an unfinished dream. That morning I dreamt that I have started working in Mumbai, in a far off college. After staying in England for more than eight years, we returned to India. We were happy to stay in TIFR quarters, Aryabatta, Dr. Homi Bhabha’s Wonderful Creation for Indian Scientists. Amita and Swati were nicely settled in a school like cathedral, and I was trying to search something for myself. Every time we came back, the south Mumbai schools, used to grab me and I used to happily work in schools. This time I wanted something on a permanent basis. The dream must be due to my anxiety. The same day I saw an advertisement in the newspaper about a vacancy for a lecturer in a college called Gandhi Shikshan Bhavan. I could not believe my eyes. Was that a co-incidence? Or was that a premonition? I applied and was called for an interview.

I distinctly remember a khadi clad couple interviewed me. Afterwards I came to know that they are the founder members of the Institution, Shri Vajubhai and his wife Leelaben Patel (Fondly called Masi) Interview went well. The only question bothering me was the distance. Gandhi Shikshan Bhavan and TIFR are the two extreme ends of Bombay Island. To release my tension, I tempted to ask, “Can I come by sea-route?” the panel members laughed, but Shri Vajubhai said, “You may choose any mode of transport, but we would like you to be here.”

And the journey started from 10th June, 1975. It was a herculean task jumping in TIFR bus, catching train at Churchgate to Santacruz, get into a bus 331 to Juhu Church and walk for 15 minutes to reach the college. Come to think of it, how did I manage it at the age of forty seven fighting on all fronts? The answer the magic of Gandhi Shikshan Bhavan Masi’s “Namaste Beta.” At the entrance developed a sense of belonging to this beautiful Ashramlike home!

Vajubhai’s well planed Blue Print for work, the challenging way of handling tasks in education, the friendly cooperation of all colleagues, the homely atmosphere, the innovative ideas, the bubbling faces of student teachers all completely took me over.

Shri Vajubhai was a strict disciplinarian as far as his ideas were implemented. The prayer time ushered us to melodious, religious mindset, forget all the worries and the discussions thereafter exposed us to different cultural, literary, religious and social climates in our own country; and made us optimistic about the solutions to their problems.

The self-help, the socially useful productive work sessions, the social work centers, above all the innovative ideas of handling the B.Ed. syllabus, everything made us “Live” not teach education. Shri Vajubhai idea of superimposing Gandhian ideology on B.Ed. syllabus of Mumbai University was fascinating.

The lectures from eminent Gandhians, educationists, Social reformers to name of few Smt. Mrinalini Desai, Acharluji, Dr. Anil Sadgopal, Battacharji the Vice-Chaircellor of Vishwa Bharati enriched our cognitive personality. Cannot forget the exposition of the Vice chancellor of Vishwa Bharati. It was raining outside and the words of the speaker were falling on us as joyful droplets of poetry creating an atmosphere of Shanti Niketan.

The innovative ideas in methods of teaching were inspired by Vajubhai. The experiments in Juhu Municipal Schools the success in transforming Juhu Ruia Park area from a neglected Shanti place to a clean beach with ladies self employed by stitching blouses, petticoats (taught by B.Ed. students) the well water saved from contamination when people used to wash clothes near the well; children enthused to sing national songs and got help in their studies, small children came to us with no running noses, well combed hair and clean dress