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 Mrs.
Bharti Gandhi's name has become synonymous with City
Montessori School and CMS Teachers' Training College in
Lucknow. Her sincere devotion towards the education of
children, training of teachers, upliftment of women and
eradication of social evils, is widely recognized in
educational circles. The CMS which she founded together with
her husband, Mr. Jagdish Gandhi, now has over 35,000 students, a Guinness World Record for largest
number of students in a single city.
Mrs. Gandhi was born on 8th August, 1936 at Anupshahar in
the Bulandashahar district of U.P. in an educated and
enlightened family of a Civil Engineer. She received her
early schooling at Bulandshahar. Mrs. Gandhi completed her
B.A., L.T., M.Ed. and Diploma of Guidance Psychologist
Examinations securing second and first divisions. She has
earned her doctorate in "Changes in the attitudes of
Montessori teachers in solving class level problems by apply
action research method" from Sampurnanand Sanskrit
Vishwa Vidyalaya, Varansi.
The spirit of social service was imbibed by her during her
childhood under the benevolent guidance of Saint Vidya Vivek
Ji. She decided to make herself available for the service of
the needy.
To propagate her ideals she began to raise a battle against
social injustice and soon came to be associated with several
social, cultural and women's welfare activities.
She opposed the dowry system which still remains the worst
evil of our society. She gave a practical proof of this
through her personal example when at the time of her own
marriage with Mr. Jagdish Gandhi, the only wedding gift or
dowry that was given to Mr. Jagdish Gandhi was a book,
"Discourses on the Gita". The bride and bridegroom
pledged to dedicate their lives to the nation and to
render service to the society. Late Shri V.V. Giri, the then
Governor of U.P. and later President of India, graced the
wedding ceremony, blessed the couple, commended them, and
exhorted others to follow their example.
In 1962 Mrs. Gandhi convened an All India Anti Dowry
Conference. She also led a band of selfless women workers to
picket liquor shops and explained to alcoholics the evils of
drinking. She convened the U.P. State Prohibition
Conference- the first of its kind - in September 1965 which
was inaugurated by Shri Morarji Desai who later became the
Prime Minister of India. In 1965 Mrs. Gandhi organised a
Women Workers Conference at Anand Bhawan in Allahabad. This
Conference was addressed by Saint Vinoba Bhave. Other isues
which are of great interest to Mrs. Gandhi are adult
education and national integration. She convened children
and Youth Festivals and Conferences to promote national
integration.
Mrs. Gandhi worked as a Psychologist for the U.P. Government
at the Regional Psychology Centre at Lucknow in the years
1957-59. She worked as a lecturer in the Khun Khun Ji Girls
Degree College, Lucknow in 1960-61, and was the Principal of
Adarsh Shiksha Kendra Inter College, Lucknow in 1961-62.
On 16th July 1959, Mrs. Bharti Gandhi, along with her
husband Mr. Jagdish Gandhi, laid the foundation of City
Montessori School which has grown to become a world fame
institution and gained an entry in the "Guinness Book
of World Records" imparting value based quality
education to over 35,000 students.
Mrs. Gandhi has been organising scouts and girl-guide camps
and rallies to encourage children to learn adventure,
discipline, and the spirit of service. Her recognition of
science as an important discipline led her to initiate and
promote children's "Science Fairs" during summer
vacations for many years.
In order to enrich her knowledge and to learn the various
teaching methods, Mrs. Gandhi has visited several countries
viz Germany, Holland, France, USSR., USA., UK, Afghanistan,
Hongkong, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Burma, Israel,
Iran, Kenya, Czech Republic, Romania, Jordon and Burundi
located in the heart of Africa. She is a life member of
Children's International Summer Villages, England.
Mrs. Gandhi has been organising International
School-to-School Exchange programmes between her own
institution, City Montessori School - and schools in
Australia, U.K., Mexico and Japan.
In 1974 Mrs. Gandhi embraced the Baha'i Faith, an
independent world religion which teaches oneness of God,
oneness of religion, and the unity of mankind. She is
currently a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the
Baha'is of India.
Mrs. Bharti Gandhi's life has been dedicated to the service
of children and to women's welfare and she continues to
undertake various activities in fulfilment of these noble
objectives. She is also a member of Rotary International
Club, Lucknow.
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