(MENAFN- Gulf Times) The management, staff and students of the Birla Public School (BPS) came together in an extraordinary assembly yesterday to mourn the demise of Dr Sarala Birla, a founder of the institution and a noted academic and philanthropist.
Leading industrialist and educationist Basant Kumar Birla's wife, Dr Sarala, 90, passed away in New Delhi on Saturday. The chairperson and founder of BK Birla Centre for Education at Pune, India, she established BPS Doha in 2004.
A K Shrivastava, principal, led the assembly summing up the great services the late Saralaji had rendered to the community in the field of education for over about half a century in India.
Recalling her role in establishing BPS Doha, the first ever educational venture of the Birla group outside India, Shrivastava observed that "she was a doting mother to the entire student community of the school and took meticulous care in giving the best in academics as in infrastructural facilities".
Luckose Chacko, vice chairman, while offering his condolences recalled how involved Saralaji was with educational welfare of the community and that she had visited the school several times in spite of her old age was a testimony of her dedication to education of children.
"Enlightenment through education shall remain the legacy that Saralaji has left behind for us and this mantra will continue to inspire all of you for years to come," Chacko said.
C V Rappai, chairman of the School Board of Directors, in a condolence message recalled the dedication, love and care Saralaji had for the betterment of students' educational welfare.
"She was a philanthropist, a visionary, an educationist, a linguist and above all, a lover of humanity and the legacy she leaves behind is for the community to cherish."
Rappai offered prayers for the departed soul along with the school community and urged everyone to continue to strive for fulfilling the educational mission and vision of the late founder.
In partnership with her husband, Dr Sarala laid the foundations of numerous educational institutions like the Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Ashok Hall Group of Schools, Mahadevi Birla World Academy, and the G D Birla Centre for Education.
Her collection of Indian art, including those displayed at the Birla Academy of Art and Culture in Kolkata, rank among India's most distinguished private collections.
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