Geeta Bajaj Bal Mandir Sansthan 

 Late Smt. Geeta Bajaj : Her Life and Contribution

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Late Smt. Geeta Bajaj a Veteran Social worker, Gandhian, freedom fighter and educationist, had been widowed at a very young age of 17 years in 1936. Her husband late Girdhari Lal Bajaj was a nephew of Seth Jamna Lal Bajaj, an industrialist businessman from Sikar in Rajasthan, who was one of the key financiers of India’s freedom struggle and whom Gandhiji had described as his fifth son. As such Smt. Geeta Bajaj had an opportunity to be with Gandhi ji at Wardha during her seventeen months of extremely short bliss of married life. Till then Geeta Bajaj had studied only up to 4th Class in her village school. Gifted with native intelligence, her nearness to Gandhiji gave her a great insight into her own personality. She developed the qualities of quiet fortitude, dedication, hard work and selfless service. Gandhiji has noticed these qualities in her and that is why his condolence note upon hearing of the demise of her husband was an extraordinary message which ultimately moulded her whole personality.

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" चि. गीता,
 

जैसा तुम्हारा नाम है, वैसे  ही तुमको  रहना है.  विधवापन और सधवापन मनमानी  चीज है.  मरना-जीना किसी के हाथ में नही है, इसलिए शांत रहो, और अपने को सेवार्पण करो.

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बापू के आशीर्वाद "

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Translated into English it meant :

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" Dear Geeta,

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As is your name, so should your deed be. Being a widow or  married woman are mere terms spoken and accepted by the society. Life and death are beyond human control, therefore stay calm and devote yourselves to service (of the masses).
 

Bapu’s blessings "

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What followed later in the life of Geeta Bajaj is a grand saga of devotion to a certain cause, which became a perfect example of the teachings of  the Bhagawad Gita.

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Following the birth of her daughter Krishna (who was born three months after her husband’s death), Geeta Bajaj secured admission to Vanasthali Vidya Peeth and later to Kashi Mahila Vidyapeeth for her High School education. It was here that she plunged herself into the great struggle for India’s freedom in 1942. It was an inspired act of patriotism, and her spirit remained undeterred even after she was expelled from Kashi Mahila Vidyapeeth. Her silent courage and determination not to yield in the face of any kind of adversity came from an inherent strength of character which made her unmindful of strains and physical tortures. She emerged as one the bravest fighters for the freedom of India. She was arrested and imprisoned in Lahore Jail where her physical health was completely shattered but her spirit remained unscathed and undaunted.

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India’s independence was coming closer and her spirit, as of all Indians, was soaring high, but her physical health again nose-dived and she had to be operated upon for intestinal T.B. With superhuman will and effort she recovered again to complete her Intermediate exam from Pilani and then graduated from Banaras University itself.

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India had now become independent, and she was a free citizen of a free country, but with an unyielding mind imbued with the philosophy of selfless service. Geeta decided to embark upon the scared task of emancipation of women in Rajasthan, by undertaking a project of educating the backward in general, and women in particular. Her vision was clear—she had not only to make women literate but also responsible and self-reliant. She knew that it was this breed of women alone who could keep India’s freedom intact.

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It was 7th July, the auspicious day of ‘Guru Purnima’ in 1952, when under the thatched roof where she lived with her daughter in a small rented room, that the first seeds for fruition of the sacred task of education for the down-trodden were sown. The first to be picked up were four or five toddlers of poor workmen and backward classes from the Moti Doongri area of Jaipur.

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What a humble beginning !

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With simply no resources except a resolute will and strong spirit, she literally followed the message that Rabindra Nath Tagore had tried to convey in his song ‘EKLA CHALO RE’ (March ahead- all alone)  when  Geeta Bajaj embarked upon this noble task. It was the beginning of a dream - she started doing what her spirit exhorted her to do, unmindful of obstacles that were to follow and only aiming at the vision of a grand future for the newly born nation

With benevolent understanding and the blessings of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Pandit Jai Narain Vyas (the then Chief Minister of Rajasthan), a small piece of land measuring 10,000 Sq. yds. was allotted to the institution of her dreams. Then came the year 1954, when the Government of Rajasthan granted formal recognition to her primary school and after that there was no looking back. In 1970 the school was upgraded to Senior Higher Secondary standard, and residential facilities for S.T.C. for women were also created.

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A single woman, a singular dream and what spectacular success!  Yet, the Dreaming Spirit, undaunted by difficulties and unlettered by success, did not rest till she had secured another one of her cherished goals of opening a B.Ed. (Bachelor of Education) College for women with residential facilities, in 1976. She felt relaxed but not relieved at all- she knew that the next mission was to make it a top ranking institution. She wanted to relive the ideal of her mentor Bapu, the Father of the Nation, in all respects.

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Geeta Bajaj introduced all her Gandhian ideas to tech and train the students in the manner Gandhiji had willed. Education imparted in this institution concentrates not only an academic excellence but aims at developing a harmonious all round personality. Extra curricular activities bring forth dormant talents of the students and inject confidence and belief in themselves and their capacities. The skills taught here are aimed at making the students self-reliant in life. The skills of weaving and spinning, gardening, scouting/guiding and sports are all aimed at building self reliance. The medium of instruction has been Hindi since its inception, but we are gradually introducing English medium classes in accordance with the times and the policies of the government.

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Geeta Bajaj Bal Mandir Sansthan is today one of the foremost educational institutions of Rajasthan for children and women teachers, and its performance is exemplary. It has approximately 400 boys and girls receiving quality education right upto 12th standard today. The facilities in all classes including nursery, are highly satisfactory and efforts are continually being made to improve them.

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Geeta Bajaj, even though Gandhian to the core, never lost sight of the needs of modern times. She had the great trait of striking a balance between the old and the new without losing the firm roots of morality and Gandhian ideals. Computer learning has been introduced and provision for advanced facilities is in the offing.

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Mrs. Geeta Bajaj died in harness after an illness of 3 week, on August 3, 1995. The progress of the Sansthan and the students, and the welfare of teachers and their training, were present in her mind throughout the period of her illness. Even through the baby had blossomed into a full grown person,  she was still ‘conscious of the things done but also of the tasks still to be completed !’  - her spirit was still keen to soar higher.

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Such was the constructive genius and missionary zeal of the great lady  - lovingly called Badi Didi (Elder Sister) that it was only befitting to honor her memory by naming all the institutions established by her after her name which was done by the management in 1995 after her death.

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Late Smt. Geeta Bajaj was a saintly soul, a great patriot and a dynamic social reformer-a true citizen of this great country, whose life and deeds will always remind us that we can also make our lives sublime. She moulded the destinies of many thousands and they are still spreading her message of simple living and dedication to human values and social service, throughout the country.

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Today, the sacred cause of emancipation of women and illiteracy, and the task of making them educated and self-reliant, is being furthered with the same zeal and fervor by a host of her illustrious old colleagues and a dedicated team of workers who have worked very hard, shunning the glare of publicity, all because of their belief and faith in the Gandhian ideals of selfless service.