Modi's Vadnagar school begins new chapter

Vadnagar Kumar Shala Number 1, tucked away in a corner of a Gujarat town 70 kilometres away from state capital Gandhinagar, is a storied school. It was built in 1888 by donations received from SayajiRao Gaekwad III, the Maharaja of Baroda between 1875 and 1939. It became a key symbol of the town, before falling into disrepair, with its functioning halted in 2018.

- Maulik Pathak

PRIZED ALUMNUS - SERVING AS INSPIRATION

The Archaeological Survey Of India took over restoration duties in 2018, and work is on to add digital infrastructure such as smart boards.

But now, Vadnagar Kumar Shala Number 1 has a new name and a new purpose. It is called the Prerana(inspiration) school, and will play host to groups (each has 20 students) that will arrive in its halls, in turn, for a seven-day study tour to embark on a “journey of inspiration, innovation, and self-discovery”.

It is a journey that is inspired by the schools most prized alumnus — Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In June 2023, the union ministry of culture first announced its plan to launch the “Prerana(inspiration) programme to inspire youth in the country to become “catalysts of change.” In early January, the ministry launched an online portal where students of classes 9 to 12 from anywhere in the country could apply for the programme, to be selected in a three-stage process that includes assessment based on short videos, writing samples and other forms of “creative expression” on subjects like “My Vision of India@2047”, and even a personal interview.