About Karthika High School & Junior College in New Hall Road, Kurla West, Mumbai

Karthika High School was founded in 1959 and is conducted by the Bharat Education Society. The Main object of the trust is to provide general education through the medium of English. The aim is not merely the intellectual education of students, but the careful development of all the moral and social habits which are the basis for the information of upright and loyal citizens of our country.


HISTORY :

In the year 1967, the then management of Bharat Education Society located at Kurla headed by Shri K.B. Pillai with strong support from Shri Venketaraman, desperately felt the need for a good school building to house an educational facility which was started by them in 1959. Shri G.P. Nair, husband of Late Karthika P. Nair and Managing Director of Bombay Drug House Pvt. Ltd. came forward with a handsome donation of Rs.1.5 Lakhs (in the 60’s Lakhs were equivalent in rupee value to Crores today). This spontaneous donation from Shri G.P. Nair was instrumental in helping to construct the first modern RCC Building for Bharat Education Society. As per Shri G.P. Nair’s & his family members’ wish, the school was renamed as Karthika High School, which was built on a newly purchased plot at Hall Road, Kurla.


Humble Beginnings :

Bharat Education Society began its humble journey in 1959. A group of likeminded Malayalees under the leadership of our founder patron Shri K.B. Pillai started Bharatiya Vidyalayam with help from general public, Two class rooms were rented out at Vazir house, which was situated at Halav Pool, near Masrani Lane, Kurla (west), Mumbai 400 070.

In year 1959 there were 41 students learning in the Malayalam, Tamil mediums as the organization at that time was meant for only South Indians. One of the objective of the trust was to impart quality education and at a reasonable fees. The other objectives were empowerment of the Malayalees children through education. In the subsequent years, 1960 and 1961, the student’s strength increased to 65 to 185 respectively. The first Annual General Body meeting was held in Nov 1960 at Holy Cross school. The space constraint was the biggest hurdle for development of school.

The members of B.E.S. felt the need to change the medium of teaching language from Malayalam to English. On Vijayadashmi day of October, 1960, English medium was started. It began with 30 students. This Bharatiya Vidyalayam was inaugurated by Shri V. K. Krishna Menon in 1959. Taking small steps and advice of Shri Meenakshi Sundaram primary section got recognized from B.M.C. The beautiful progress of the school was celebrated by the students on 23rd April, 1961. This program was presided over by Shri. Shantilal M. Shah, Minister for Labour& Law, Govt. of Maharashtra.

By this time there were many well-wishers of the B.E.S., who found an able administrator and philanthropist in Shri. G.P. Nair, who willingly came to the rescue of B.E.S. by donating handsomely. Shri G.P. Nair was the Director of B.D.H and the treasurer of Bombay Regional Congress Committee (B.R.C.C).


The Growth Phase :

Shri K.B. Pillai along with Shri Venketaraman had taken charge of ‘Bharatiya Vidyalayam’ housed in a small shed called ‘Vazir House’ in Kurla in the most backward slum areas of Kurla, where education was a dire necessity. Being Secretaries of the newly formed Bharat Education Society, Kurla, they were struggling to get students to join the newly started school and were also desperate in running of the school, financially. It is during their “hunt” for benevolent philanthropic malayalees in Mumbai (they “knocked on many a doors”, in vain) that they approached Shri G.P. Nair who thereafter became the President of Bharat Education Society and made the donation for the modern building for “Karthika”.

The new school building for “Karthika” was constructed at a newly purchased plot on Hall Road, Kurla. The foundation stone for the building was laid by His Holiness Shri Chinmayanandaji in 1967. With divine blessings, the building was completed in one year and was inaugurated by the then Governor of Maharashtra, Late Dr. P.V. Cherian and his wife Late Dr. Tara Cherian in 1968. This august event, kindled the lamp of progress for “Karthika”.

Karthika High School’s history can be divided further into three phases. The Infanthood Phase was very impoverished. During this phase, the Principals & teachers mostly were serving for the cause of education rather than monetary rewards. The Principals during this phase were as follows :

1. Shri. Rama Iyer
2. Shri. Ramaswamy
3. Shri. A.R. Kazi
Once the new school building at Hall Road was constructed, Karthika entered the Child Phase. During this period, the Principals were as follows :
4. Kumari Saraswathi Amma (ex-S.I.W.S)
5. Smt. Seethalaxmi Ammal
6. Smt. Laxmi Kumara (senior teacher promoted)
7. Shri. Wamadevan Achari (senior teacher promoted)
8. Shri. Nelson Perera

The Youth/Adult Phase started in 1990 after Shri G.P. Nair, the then President of BES expired and Dr. Gopa Kumar G. Nair took over as President of Bharat Education Society. In 1992, Shri K.B. Pillai, the Founder Secretary of BES also expired, following which the Governing Council was repeatedly reconstituted under the leadership of Dr. Gopakumar G. Nair. During Dr. Nair’s Presidentship and Shri Nelson Perera’s Principalship, Shri R. Ramakrishnan joined the BES management team as Honourable Treasurer. The revamped Governing Council with Dr. Nair as President, Shri Ramakrishnan as Treasurer and CEO, Smt. Sheela Nair and Shri Vivek Pillai as Secretaries, made steady progress in quality and quantum of education in Karthika which had become a Junior College also. While Dr. Nair continued during this growth phase as President from 1990 till date, Smt. Karthika Nair and Shri K.P. Prabhakar joined as Vice President. Shri Ramakrishnan became CFO & Patron, Smt. Sheela Nair, Secretary (along with Shri Vivek Pillai) became CEO and Shri Ramachandran G. Nair became Treasurer.


Vivek English High School

Along with the progress by “leaps and bounds” in Karthika, Vivek High School, at Kurla East (now known as Qureshi Nagar) started in 1976 also was making steady progress. However, Vivek School came into prominence, once the young and dynamic Shri Vikram Pillai (son of Shri K.B. Pillai and member of BES Governing Council) took over as Principal of “Vivek”. Under persistent efforts of Shri Vikram Pillai, encouraged by Dr. Nair and ably supported by the Governing Council, a magnificent four storied school building was constructed for Vivek High School at Qureshi Nagar. The “Vivek” is now a modern school with high prospects for growth and diversification.


Neral Project & Matheran Valley Institute of Excellence

Under the visionary guidance of Dr.Nair, the President and the enthusiastic initiative of the then Treasurer & CEO, ShriRamakrishnan, the Bharat Education Society acquired 32 Acres of land near Matheran at Vanjarpada Village, Neral. The acquisition of land which commenced in year 2002, is nearing completion. The Agricultural land was converted into “NA” and a magnificent school building was constructed along with Guest House and other support facilities. The English Medium School started six years back for the rural village children of Maharashtra, is making steady progress. The Bharat Education Society is currently actively pursuing National and International tie-ups for commencing globally relevant and career oriented vocationally useful educational courses at the Matheran Valley Institute of Excellence. It is also the hope and vision of Bharat Education Society that a BES University will be established at the 32 Acre facility at Neral in the coming years.