A pedagogue with a difference, Dr Keshaba Chandra Satapathy is both a visionary and a pragmatist, who has touched the mud has left it all gold. Joining as an humble teacher in Mathematics in the DAV organisation, he rose to the post of Principal and has subsequently become Regional Director, DAV Institutions of Odisha, Zone-I. He proudly proclaims “Today, I feel elevated when I have my human resources deployed in 105 countries across the world.” This temple of learning at Chandrasekharpur has been left hallowed by the visits of the luminaries like Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, Dr Raja Ramanna, Prof Yashpal, Noble laureate Prof Gerard‘t Hooft, Soli J Sorabjee, Dr Kiran Bedi, Wing Cdr Rakesh Sharma, Joginder Singh, Dr Ramakanta Panda, PT Usha, Dillip Tirkey, Pragyan Ojha, etc. A writer of many Mathematics books, Satapathy also contributes regularly to leelavati’s page-A Mathematic Journal. Today, the Chandrasekharpur DAV Public Shool complex is laden with a multitude of large living beehives with students entering into the campus jostling with one another with their shining morning faces having satchels on their backs. In an interview to The Pioneer, Dr Satapathy spoke to Sugyan Choudhury from his office at the DAV campus.
What was the purpose behind the DAV MissionIJ
The purpose behind the DAV education movement was that in those days of British India, there were only Christian Missionary schools and the students, if they wanted to be educated, had to enter into those institutions. They were tempted to Missionary schools and were gradually getting divorced from the Indian culture and traditions of excellence. Founder of Arya Samaj his holiness Swami Dayananda Saraswati laid the inception of the DAV mission school by establishing a school at lahore in 1886. Swamiji wanted that along with other subjects, knowledge in Vedic scriptures would also be imparted to students in English language so that they would be imbued with the essence of the Indian culture. Besides, Swamiji had in his mind to educate Indians through English language the basic tenets of the Vedas so that they would remain true to their motherland and be able to join the War of Indian Independence struggle. Today, we have as many as 800 DAV schools in the country, besides having many colleges and universities. The DAV mission is probably the largest private organisation in the field of education today.
How did the DAV movement come to OdishaIJ
The first DAV school in Odisha was established in 1971 when Dr AN Khosla was Governor of the State. He was also the vice-president of DAV management at the national level. Hence, we regard him as the father of the DAV movement in Odisha. Today, we have around 52 DAV schools in Odisha, besides having many colleges like the ones at Titilagarh, Koraput and Nirakarpur. The results of DAV school students are very bright and competing at the national and international arena. You must know that in a very major important scholarship like the Kishore Protshahan Baigyanika Yojana, the DAV school Chandrasekharpur almost receives 50% of the award alone. This is a very important scheme introduced by the Government of India to provide scholarship of an enviable amount monthly besides two lakh of rupees as book grants till the students complete his studies leading him finally to become a scientist. In such a competition, the DAV Chandrasekharpur alone is the recipient of the award to the extent of 50% of the total scholarship winners of the State. Hardly two to four scholarships go to the BJB College or Rourkela. Six of our students have bagged the National Child Award, which is no mean achievement. Besides, we are now imparting IIT coaching to our students, and we are sure our students will hit the headlines someday with their success in the IIT examinations. We have achieved many things, but still we have many more things to achieve. We want that any student who enters into the DAV school should leave the school with good moral character and shall always remain true to his motherland.
What are the exemplary achievements of the DAV education movementIJ
So far, the DAV movement has produced three Prime Ministers like Atal Behari Vajpayee, IK Gujral and Dr Manmohan Singh. Besides, cricket stars Kapil Dev, cine star Sunil Dutt, astronaut Kalpana Chawala, cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Nobel laureate Dr Hargovind Khurana and such other 100 luminaries have glorified our DAV mission.
Can you cite such examples regarding DAV products here in this part of the countryIJ
Certainly. You will appreciate that Padmini Rout, the world chess champion, Pragyan Ojha, Amiya Mallick are such brilliant examples. Soumyakant Nayak is a big shot by now, who has represented India in two Olympiads like International Astrophysics and International Astronomy, having won gold medals for the country. Apurba Mishra is also a celebrated scientist by now. All these luminaries were alumni of DAV school.
What are the provisions for poor and meritorious students the DAV management is extendingIJ
25% of the seats are reserved for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and for differently-abled students. As per our agreement, we receive 10 students belonging to the above categories every year from the Odisha Government and give them free education till Class-XII. We provide fee concessions to poor meritorious students. We also provide free education to students who are homeless, hapless and orphans or those whose parents, father or mother, have died in accidents. For your information, we have admitted Budhia Singh into our school, who is now reading in Class-VIII.
What is the secret of the success your school has achieved during your tenureIJ
The only key to our success is student-oriented management. The students in need are addressed instantly at the appropriate levels. Besides, we know that in the success of the students lies our recognition and our achievements. The entire members of the staff including the Principal act like the guides and guardians of the pupils in need. Besides, remedial teachings are provided to the students who are deficient in one or more subjects.
What’s your observation that in our prevailing school education, students are turning volte face to the age-old Indian cultureIJ
The Central Board of Secondary Education has taken a step in this regard by providing guidelines to observe national festivals in schools. That is how in our schools Ganesh Puja, Holi Utsav, Id-ul-Fitre, Christmas are observed, besides Janmastami and Gandhi Jayanti, etc. The students are so acquainted with the fests that they will certainly imbibe the cultural ethos of those festivals. Besides, the CBSE is conducting Heritage India Quiz Test to help the students inculcate such vibes.
What is your message to other schools and other faculties of DAV institutionsIJ
I would like to convey then that they should become friends, philosophers and guides to their students. This is the time to win over them by counselling, guiding and inspiring them to achieve great heights. I would also like to make an appeal to all those friends that this is the time we can motivate the pupils and address the needy students at various platforms. All the heads of the school should be student-oriented. Teachers should know they are the father and the mother of the students and by guiding the students they are fulfilling the onerous task of nation building.
