Amarjyoti Saraswati International School is located in Bhavnagar & is affiliated to

ICSE & ISC Board. The school was founded in 2001 by Captain Kirit Sinh Gohil and

Mrs Amar Jyoti Gohil.  The school is managed by the Amar Jyoti Trust.

Captain Kirit Sinh Gohil and Mrs Amar Jyoti Gohil

 

At the age of seven, my father took me to India for the first time.

I was shocked by the poverty, the children on the streets having nothing to

their name.

 

In all of the vibrant colours that India is so famous for, something held my heart heavy.

I asked my father “Why are there so many beggars here? Why are there so many people so poor?” He replied “Due to the lack of education in this country. If we were all educated, there would be no beggars on the street.” I turned round to my father and said “One day, I will open up schools all over India, so there would be no beggars in the streets!”.

 

I grew up in Burma but am of Indian descent. Due to political circumstances, I found myself having to make a new life in the UK when I was barely out of my teens. I had two children, and made sure the one thing I did was to get them a decent education so they had a good start in life. After my kids grew up and went to University in the UK, I returned to India, where I met my true love and decided to do something with my life that I once promised my father.

 

When I met Capt Kirit Sinh Gohil, now over 20 years ago, he helped me start a school. At the time it was only two classrooms. The school was called Silver Bells and it was a state school. With his help, the school has now grown into a full size CBSE public school with around 3000 students. All doing very well in their studies.

A few years after I settled in India, I decided to build a school which was ICSE standard. It was, and still is the only ICSE school in Bhavanagar.

 

My main drive, even today is seeing children that come from ordinary backgrounds do so well for themselves. You see them grow and flourish into young adults with confident and knowledgable heads on them. Giving them that springboard of opportunity is such an honour. I try to keep in touch with all of my ex-students and they make you proud of what they have become. With the connections back in England, and what I had learned in my time there, it was possible to bring so much more to the school and the children’s education. Everything I have learned from going to seminars and teacher training within India and the UK, I have managed to bring into the school and see the results. Seeing the students go on to study in highly respectful universities and wonderous vocations all over the world is what makes me strive to keep improving the school on a day to day basis. Also helping the local community with job within the school and helping fund their childrens education through the proper means is a big part of my ongoing plan.

 

It is now time for the school to be recognised for what it really is; A safe, fun, high quality education centre for children of all walks of life who yearn to achieve their highest potential.

I also think that it is important for students to be well travelled and to keep an open mind. I am a firm believer in the saying “Travel broadens the mind” and try to incorporate as many school trips and opportunities abroad into the curriculum as I can. I want every student to take the good from the East and West. As the world becomes smaller, our students minds should be broader and their hearts stronger.

Usually schools in India are all on results, but in Amar Jyoti Saraswati International School, it is about all round development. A good mind, body and soul will help achieve the necessary standard to learn and strive towards academic achievement.

 

In the near future, I would like to see the school develop into a fully fledged and nationally recognised Indian University. I would also like to see more projects and partnerships with other schools from all over the world. The ongoing development of helping the environment is also very close to my heart. We plant so many trees each year and encourage staff and students not to waste, but to recycle. Through positive awareness, I hope that everyone will take this back to their communities and encourage others to take heed. The school is part of a community, and therefore must only be truthful, positive and good for our childrens future.

 

I would like to thank Margaret Quow who was a principal in the UK. She helped me so much in setting up both schools. And to all the other teachers from the UK who came from time to time to help. The influence they have had has been a great help and may these exchanges continue. Also really big thankyou to all the teachers from past and present, without whom this school would not have been possible. There is some astounding talent within the teaching staff at this school. May it continue to thrive in a positive and true hearted manner. They are all like a family to me.

 

Most of all, I would like to thank my Husband, Captain Kirit Sinh Gohil, for helping me in every step and believing in me. Without his help none of this would have been possible.