Five Years of Learning at Rajaborari - the “Forest of the Merciful”

The Radhasoami Satsang Sabha has been engaged in development and uplift of Adivasis in the Rajaborari Forest Estate in Madhya Pradesh comprising of the villages Rajaborari, Salai and Temrubahar since 1924, when the Estate was gifted by Revered Sir Anand Sarup ji to the Sabha.

Many a dedicated individuals have offered their services for this cause. One amongst them is the young and dynamic D. Sumir, a Director’s Medal holder from DEI (Dayalbagh Educational Institute). Five years back, he left his high flying job at American Express and with his wife plunged headlong in this service of humanity at Rajaborari and is currently a Honorary Teaching Faculty at the DEI ICT Centre there.

Remain Happy,
Anurag
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Sumir writes...

Five Years of Learning at Rajaborari - the “Forest of the Merciful”.

After serving for four years in the concrete jungles of Manhattan, New York, completion of five years service at Rajaborari- the “Forest of the Merciful”, is a Godsend and a value-added experience of life.

The Rajaborari Estate is a cluster of 10 hamlets located in the dense forests of Harda district of Madhya Pradesh. The area is mainly populated by Korku and Gond tribal communities, numbering around six thousand people.  

The foundation of formal education was laid at Rajaborari with the establishment of Radhasoami Adivasi Primary School in 1937. Afterwards, several primary schools were started in phased manner. The middle school education was started in 1979. The high school was started in 1982-83 which was upgraded to higher secondary school in 1996.

Most Revered Dr. M. B. Lal Sahab, the Founder Director of DEI, inspecting the foundation work of the High School building in 1983 (Presently the DEI ICT Centre - Rajaborari) 

“ऐसी संस्थाएं जो हमारे परम गुरुओं की छ्त्रछाया में जन्म लेतीं हैं, उनके आदर्शों का पालन करतीं हैं वे प्रगति के मार्ग पर अग्रसर होतीं हैं। ... जो परिवेश हमारे परम गुरुओं के संरक्षण में इन संस्थाओं में प्राप्त हो सकता है वह बाहर की संस्थाओं में कदापि कदापि नहीं हो सकता।”      

-       परम पूज्य हुज़ूर सतसंगी साहब

A series of land mark events took place between 2008 and 2009. DEI took over the academic and administrative control of all the primary, middle and higher secondary schools operating in the Rajaborari Estate area (vide the Governing Body resolutions dated 09-08-2008 and 25-04-2009). The "Open and Distance Learning" program was also started at Rajaborari on 01-01-2008 to disseminate the vocational and higher education in unique blended distance education mode. The Children Recreation Centres (CRCs) were also established as an integral part of the education system.  At present, there are over 1200 students at Rajaborari from primary to higher education level (43% Girls) who are receiving the education under the academic umbrella of DEI. B.Com (Hons.), Office Assistant cum Computer Operator, Cutting & Sewing and Diploma in Elementary Education (D.El.Ed) are being successfully offered at the Center.

A historic 21 days visit of the Most Revered Chairman, Advisory Committee on Education, Dayalbagh Educational Institutions (ACE) to Rajaborari in 2009 had set a five year Vision Plan for Rajaborari.

Most Revered Chairman, ACE at Five Year Vision Plan Seminar (Rajaborari-2009)

Towards the completion of the fifth year of the Vision Plan, a significant initiative was taken by DEI in November 2014 when a team of experts and professionals visited Rajaborari under the stewardship of Prof. Prem Kumar Kalra, the Hon’ble Director of the Institute. The rural entrepreneurial incubation centers were opened at Rajaborari by launching three programs: ATMA (Apparel and Toys Manufacturing Association), ADyNaM Foods (Agro &  Dairy Nano Multiprocessing) and AAM (Automotive And Multi-skill) Karkhana.

As the foundation of Rural Economic Zone (REZ) at Rajaborari is strongly in place, it is now progressing towards the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) as some of the products are in the process of being exported abroad.

“मुझको ऐसा ख़याल होता है कि राजाबरारी में कभी बड़ी भारी इंडस्ट्री क़ायम होगी।”

परम गुरु हुज़ूर साहबजी महाराज (१४ जनवरी १९२५)

High quality garments being produced at DEI ATMA Centres by Tribal Ladies

Some of the Designs

Multi-skill AAM Karkhana at Rajaborari

Skilled Individuals at the AAM Karkhana

Community Impact

It is clearly evident that the DEI has an innovative education model at Rajaborari which ranges from Primary Education to Higher Education under one common academic umbrella. The unique blend of academic, vocational and entrepreneurship programmes coupled with the support of the developmental schemes of Radhasoami Satsang Sabha is gradually transforming the Rajaborari Estate into a Smart Village Cluster.

Socio-Economic Transformation

The DEI and Radhasoami Satsang Sabha have been working in full cooperation to transform Rajaborari - the “Forest of the Merciful” into the unique Sigma Six Q Way of Life.

Alumni Speak

“Whatever I have been able to do with my career is all because of what I learnt at DEI. I belong to a small village Magardha which is 80 km. far from Rajaborari. I stayed at the Boys Hostel and cooked food for myself for 5 years of intermediate and B.Com education at Rajaborari. I truly feel that it was worth making that effort.”

- Mr. Ganesh Meena, B.Com 2013, Tribal Student, Village Magardha, Working at ICICI Bank, Indore

“I am thankful to my parents who despite of the fact that I am a girl permitted me to receive the education. I am thankful to DEI for providing me the opportunity to get a graduate degree at my village. My parents are proud of my brother and myself who are now working at respectable companies at Gurgaon.”

- Ms. Surat Pyari Verma, B.Com 2016, Working at Kleeto Document Management, Gurgaon

“My father who works as a daily wage labourer is very proud to see me working in a government scale job at DEI.”

-  Mr. Tulsiram Bhalavi, B.Com 2015, Tribal Student, Permanent Accountant at DEI

“I belong to a very poor adivasi family of village Buddhudhana. My father passed away last year. I am the only male member left in the family. Due to a snake bite incident, it took me eight months to recover the activity in my left leg completely. After completion of my Diploma in MOM&SP from DEI Rajaborari, I have joined Spencer’s at Gurgaon as Store Keeper. I have now been able to provide financial support to my family.”

-  Mr. Arjun Parte, Tribal Youth, MOM&SP 2017, Spencer’s Retail (Gurgaon)

 “I have undergone six month two-wheeler automobile repair training at AAM Karkhana Rajaborari. The DEI Technical College has also arranged and sponsored twenty day training for me at Yamaha Motor Pvt. Ltd, Surajpur (near Noida). I have now started my own Flour Mill cum Automobile Repair shop in my village which is providing livelihood to my family.”

-   Mr. Ashok Uikey, Self-employed Tribal Youth

“I belong to village Temrubahar (a Korku tribal village) in district Harda. I am using the welding equipment and infrastructure of AAM Karkhana Rajaborari for my self-employment purposes. I was working in a factory at Bhopal as welder but now I have relocated back to my village and started my own welding services by using AAM Karkhana equipment (Welding Machine, Cutter, Power Backup etc.). I am simultaneously managing my agriculture operations as well. I have earned Rs. 50,000 in past six months from my welding works without making any investment in the costly equipment and power back-up in this rural area”

-  Mr. Sukhdev Bhusare, Self-employed Tribal Youth