TOS Annie Besant Model School, Rayagada, Odisha
TOS Annie Besant Model School in Rayagada, Odisha, India
With the help of the late Prof. Chintamani Mohapatra, former president of Utkal Theosophical Federation, Odisha and his wife Smt. Snehalata Mohapatra, president, TOS group, Rayagada, the school was named the TOS Vikash Balwadi School and formally inaugurated in 1994. In 2006, the school received government recognition up to class IV.
Its student body has grown to 210, with nine teachers and a Principal. Most of the students are from a poor background and are provided a free education funded by donations from TS and TOS members, non-members and organisations. Currently, emphasis is being placed on developing theosophically-based educational methods such as those outlined in Vic Hao Chin’s booklet Establishing Theosophical Schools.
Principal standing with nursery students holding teddies
sent by the TOS Italy.
R. to L.: Radhaji, former TS president, with B.L. Bhattacharya, Director TOS India, Khageswar Routray, former secretary TOS Odisha, Mrs G. Satyavati, School Principal and Sister Snehalata Mahapatra (in the foreground) distributing school uniforms to students in the past.
Recently, in consultation with the TOS president, Odisha, Dr Deepa Padhi, it was renamed as the TOS Annie Besant Model School. At its current strength of 210 students, the school provides classes from Nursery toclass VII. Students learn Odia, Telugu and English as well as the other required subjects leading to a quality education. As a TOS school, emphasis is given to inner discipline and values. The daily school routine begins with recitation of “O Hidden Life” followed by a short meditation period and then yoga and pranayama for 15 minutes.
Students doing meditation
Students doing pranayama (breathing exercises)
Girl students performing dances
Deepa Padhi, President (centre), and two members of the TOS
Mahabharat Group distribute prizes to students
Principal, Mrs G. Satyavati (seated) and the teachers at the TOS
Annie Besant Model School
The teachers and attendant at the school are paid very little, grossly below present economic conditions. The TOS Odisha would like to remedy that by increasing salaries to currently acceptable standards. They plan to build a corpus fund, the interest from which will provide funds for teachers’ salaries for many years to come. In addition, there is immediate need for some building repairs, and the students all need uniforms, socks and shoes. To put that into perspective for Westerners, uniforms, socks and shoes for all 210 students comes to approximately US$ 2,200 or €2,000. If you or your group would like to help with the corpus fund or immediate needs please contact us at nancy.tosinternational@gmail.com for details.
What is a theosophical school? According to Vic Hao Chin – “A theosophical school is not necessarily a school that formally teaches theosophy. A school that is loving, non-sectarian, not using fear or ranking or competition, nurtures a free and independent mind and an ethical and selfless character – these are the elements that make a theosophical school.”