Dr. Jagdish Gandhi, Visionary Educator and Founder of City Montessori School (CMS), Passes Away at 87

 

Dr. Jagdish Gandhi, Visionary Educator and Founder of
City Montessori School (CMS), Passes Away at 87

Lucknow, January 22 : Dr. Jagdish Gandhi, iconic educational figure and a tireless advocate for global peace, passed away in the early hours of 22 January, 2024 at the age of 87.  With his birth in Barsauli village of Aligarh district in Uttar Pradesh in 1936, his journey began in a humble family.

              With solid leadership qualities and a legendary attitude of humility, he went on to be elected as President of the Lucknow University Student's Union in 1959, and in that capacity he successfully invited then PM Jawaharlal Nehru to inaugurate the student's union hall.

              He was an independent Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) in Uttar Pradesh, serving from 1969 to 1974, but gave up politics thereafter to dedicate his life to education of children full-time.

              In 1959, Dr. Gandhi with his wife founded City Montessori School (CMS) in Lucknow with merely 5 students in a rented building. His vision of holistic education soon led CMS to become the world's largest school as per the Guinness Book of Records, currently educating over 61,000 students.

              Dr. Gandhi's conception of education wedded academic excellence with global citizenship education. He organised 20 international events for students every year to promote cross-cultural understanding, and also organised an annual conference of Chief Justices of the World to build a climate of opinion for a world governance structure that can make children's future more secure globally. A dedicated member of the Baha'i Faith, he believed in fostering the vision of inter-religious harmony,VasudhaivKutumbkam and Jai Jagat. This commitment led to CMS being awarded the prestigious UNESCO Prize for Peace Education in 2002, nominated by the central government of India.

              Dr. Gandhi is survived by his wife, Dr. Bharti Gandhi, four children - DrSunita Gandhi, MrVinay Gandhi, Prof Geeta Gandhi Kingdon, and Prof Nita Gandhi Forouhi - their spouses and six grandchildren.

              For those who wish to pay their final respects, Dr. Gandhi will be lying-in-state at the auditorium of the CMS Gomti Nagar Extension campus (near Shaheed Path) from 1 pm to 5 pm on Tuesday, 23rd January. A memorial prayer service will be held at the same location starting at 3 pm on Sunday, 4th February, where Dr. Gandhi's life will be celebrated and his legacy honored by family, friends and admirers from around the world.