The City Pays Homage to Dr Jagdish Gandhi

Lucknow, 4 February: Huge crowds gathered at City Montessori School, Kanpur Road auditorium on the occasion of Dr Jagdish Gandhi’s Memorial Prayer Service to pay homage to the CMS Founder and to get inspiration from his life.

Eminent dignitaries such as Cabinet Minister Shri Anil Rajbhar on behalf of Chief Minister Shri Yogi Adityanath; Deputy Chief Minister, Shri Keshav Prasad Maurya; Deputy Chief Minister, Shri Brajesh Pathak; Minister Shri Nand Kumar Nandi, Mayor of Lucknow, Mrs Sushma Kharakwal; Former Speaker of UP Legislative Assembly, Shri Mata Prasad Pandey; Former Minister, Dr R A Usmani; Former Mayor of Lucknow, Ms Sanyukta Bhatia; Mr Justice Vishnu Sahai; Mr Pradeep Shukla IAS; Mrs Aradhana Shukla, IAS; Mr Jitendra Kumar, IAS; Mr Sanjay Prasad, IAS; Mr Mukesh Meshram, IAS; Padmashree Ms Vidya Vindushree, and people from various walks of life viz religious leaders, litterateurs, journalists, educators, social workers, advocates and bureaucrats etc. arrived together to pay homage to the visionary leader and world renowned educationist.

The whole campus of CMS Kanpur Road echoed with the memories of Dr. Jagdish Gandhi and his inspiring thoughts. People who came to pay their respects recalled their experiences with the great world leader who had started the City Montessori School from scratch and made it the largest institution of the world.

On this occasion, Cabinet Minister Shri Anil Rajbhar read out the Condolence Message sent by the Chief Minister of U.P. Shri Yogi Adityanath, which conveyed that Dr Jagdish Gandhi will be long remembered for his immense social contributions and that under Dr Jagdish Gandhi’s guidance, CMS had become an exemplary role-model for schools not only in the state of UP but in the whole country.

Defence Minister Dr Rajnath Singh said in his message that Dr Gandhi had dedicated his whole life to giving children a bright future. His passing away is a tragic loss for the world of education.

Deputy Chief Minister, Mr Keshav Prasad Maurya said that Dr Gandhi taught us how to grow from a tiny seedling into a huge tree by dint of courage, determination and consistent effort.

Deputy Chief Minister Shri Brajesh Pathak said this was the first time he had come to CMS without Dr Jagdish Gandhi and he prayed for the peace of his soul. Many others spoke about their association with Dr Gandhi and paid him homage.

The Memorial Prayer Service began with Havan-Puja in a traditional way. Followers of various religions participated in an All Religion Prayer, the religions being represented by the following: Hari Prasad Mishra-Hinduism; Maulana Khalid Rashid Firangi Mahali-Islam; Sardar Rajendra Singh Bagga-Sikhism; Father Donald D’Souza; Shri Shailendra Jain-Jainism; Bhante Sheel Rajan-Buddhism; Ms Sonu Mohajer-Bahai Faith; and Ms Radha Bahen - Brahma Kumaris etc.

CMS music teachers presented Dr Jagdish Gandhi’s favourite bhajans while a CMS School Band played the hymns ‘Abide with me,’ and ‘Amazing Grace’.

On this occasion, the CMS Founder-Director Dr (Mrs) Bharti Gandhi said that Gandhi ji had high thinking and simple living, and that his whole life was devoted to the welfare and education of children. She said he will always remain in our hearts and continue to inspire us at every step. Professor Geeta Gandhi Kingdon, CMS President read a moving eulogy to her father Dr Jagdish Gandhi, and members of CMS management also offered tributes and prayers.