A swan can swim smoothly from one pool of water to just another with ease. Just in the same way, noted businessman, Sudarshan Mahajan moved from family work of forest lessee after nationalization in 1989 to challenging task of providing quality education in Jammu, the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir. Mr. Mahajan launched K C Educational Society with an objective of providing quality education to lay firm foundations of young boys and girls. The K C Public School, started operations from April, 1997 and later added a college of Education and also Law College.
In a special interview to O P Sharma, Mr. Mahajan stated: “ I have particular passion for the educational institution and devote more attention to this mission of shaping the future of generation next”. He argued that if we produce bright and forward looking youth, we can certainly expect better tomorrow and all investment in quality education would yield rich dividends.”
Quality Education
Questioned to specify his major attainment in life, Mr Mahajan’s prompt reply was “ it is definitely in the sphere of the promotion of high quality education in this part of the country. It was one of the pioneer works and our show-piece institution had a domino effect; resulting later on few more learning centres coming up in and around Jammu as well.
Elaborating a point, the Chairman, K C Educational Society stressed: “ We are supplementing the Government endeavours for imparting high quality education facilities to the public. He pointed out that innovative methods of learning are adopted to ensure world class education system.
Within Reach
To a question of charging very high fee, Mr. Mahajan pointed out that the fee structures in prestigious education institutions in major cities such as Delhi and other places is much higher than what is charged in Jammu so far. Answering another query, the Chairman, KC Public School indicated that due care is taken of the poor and meritorious students. Scholarships and other amenities are in place for socially and economically weaker sections.
Sudarshan Mahajan told that the village Naraina on Indo-Pak border has been adopted for expanding area of operation for community welfare, quality education and set in motion a chain of new institutions for purposeful high standards of teaching-learning in the spirit of 21st century !
Sound Foundation laid
This widely travelled, soft-spoken businessman has a vast network of friends circle including Om Sara, Amrit Malhotra, Balraj Puri, S D Rohmetra, G M Shah , D D Thakur, Ved Bhasin drawn from various walks of life—political, bureaucratic and social circles in Jammu and Kashmir as well across the country. This family have close linkages with some of the top-notch achievers in business, industry, social spheres.
Sudarshan Mahajan claimed that educational institutions run by the Society have over 350 personnel, some highly educated with rich experience in the fields, employed on good pay and salaries. His major focus is on the students, who are central figure of all programmes—academic, extra-curricular, sports, cultural activities and the results are invariably credit worthy indeed almost every year. He made mention of exchange of staff and students with some of the foreign countries.
Higher Goals
Reacting positively to suggestion for reducing the heavy school bags of the school students, he disclosed that a directive has been issued by the Principal, Dr R D Thakur to students and teachers to pre-plan carrying only the essential books and note-books on a particular day. This will certainly lessen the load of bags for the convenience of the young students.
The chairman asserted that a road-map has been drawn up for the consolidation and further expansion of the education infrastructure in this institution. He said his grandson Arjun Chowdhary is taking keen interest in this venture and has some vision for upgrading sports and extracurricular activities along with academic learning process on modern lines.
His family
Sudarshan Mahajan is son of leading businessman and social activist, Ram Chand Mahajan who remained member of State Legislature and his mother Smt Shakuntla Devi was a simple and devoted lady. He has three brothers and three sisters, all well placed. Two eminent persons: Ved Goswami for former Chairman, Airport Authority of India and Sudesh Kumar, retired ADG, MESS are assisting him in the management to the educational institutions.
Asked to comment on his past performance, Mr. Mahajan said, “I look back with a sense of fulfillment and am humbly glad to have established this mission of KC Educational Society which is rendering a noble service to the people. He added that performance of this premier institution is proud worthy in academic and other related spheres inspiring confidence among the students, parents and public at large. He added that a large number of Kceans make it to professional courses every year.”