Leading with Values: A Legacy in Education.

From a childhood dream inspired by the selfless service of convent nuns to leading one of Bidar’s most respected educational networks, Dr. Reshma Kaur’s journey is a testament to purpose and perseverance. As Vice Chairperson of the Guru Nanak Group of Institutions since 1998, she has expanded its reach from a single CBSE school to a network that uplifts entire communities. Mentor Magazine, in this month’s special issue, chronicles her inspiring path—capturing the milestones, challenges, and innovations that have defined her vision.

Journey

I studied in a convent, and spent a good part of my childhood observing the service oriented nuns, diligent in their work and striving to offer their best to the society. Their altruistic nature had an impact on me, and as a child I dreamt of starting a school. The universe conspired to take me on this path, and as destiny had it, I married into a family of educators. 

My husband’s family established the Guru Nanak Group of Institutions; I joined them in 1998 and I have been living my dream of serving the society through education, ever since.

How is it going?

Established in 1975, The Guru Nanak Public School was the first CBSE School in Bidar, the only English Medium School at that time in this city. Over the decades, we have spread our wings and grown into a group of institutions, with over 6000 students graduating from our schools and colleges. 

Very recently we started three schools in the Taluk level where most children are first generation learners. Our teachers travel every day to these villages and hamlets, around 60 to 70 km.

The fee we charge is bare minimum compared to what we do in Bidar, but the curriculum and pedagogy remain the same, so that when these children join our main school in the city, they’re on par with the other children. 

Challenges & Hurdles

My father-in-law, Late Pant Ratan Shiromani Sardar Joga Singhji, established the Guru Nanak Public School. In 1975, there were no private English institutions in Bidar. The newly appointed teachers had to go door to door to obtain admissions, convincing parents to send their children to this new school. They secured around 200 students for the first year. In 1981, we got affiliated to the CBSE Board, following which people sat up and noticed the importance of our institution. 

One of the challenges that we came across was finding good teachers. Since Bidar was an Air Space, wives of Air Force officers would volunteer and teach for a year or two before the husbands transferred to another town. We slowly found a consistent and stable flow of talent into our learning spaces. Our first Engineering College was established in 1980 with students who came from Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir and other parts of Northern India. 

In this process, The Guru Nanak Group of Institutions have not only contributed towards education but also toward the economy of Bidar. 

Invisible Curriculum

The essence of service, imbibed through my convent learning as a child certainly influences me taking some of my decisions today. Some of the things I went through as a child, I found impactful enough to be included in our pedagogy here. The aim is to provide quality education to children and we do not compromise on that. 

My Mentor

My father was my mentor and guide, and my forever inspiration. Soft-spoken and spiritual, he worked for the Police Department; a very unlikely combination, we used to remark. Right from the scriptures, to astrology, sports, entertainment and politics, he was an erudite person who helped us understand the finer nuance of anything under the sun. He used to read Banis and explain their meanings to us. 

What motivates you on dull days?

All of us go through instances when we feel like giving up, yet something holds you back and says, no, this is just a setback, and it will propel you towards your victory. We only have to push ourselves through these setbacks.

In a three tier city like Bidar, changing the mindset of people was difficult. We began with convincing people to take a leap towards education, and eventually followed up with them to pay attention to rules and regulations of the institutions. We had acerbic parents coming in to challenge authority but a simple explanation that these rules were set for their children’s betterment would assusage their inhibitions. We needed extra motivation on such days, but we made it as a team.

Innovative Programs

As I emphasised earlier, we show no differential treatments to any of our students and whatever curriculum that children in Bidar study under is the same that’s extended to those in the Taluk level villages. Our scholastic approach remains the same throughout. 

Since our teachers work hard catering to two kinds of student bodies, we have workshops for them, both offline and online.

We have strived to expose the Taluk level children to the same kind of technology that our students in Bidar have the privilege to learn from. We have interactive panels so that children can clarify doubts, and teachers can monitor them online as well. We have included Robotics to open a new world to the tech savvy generation, to empower them with the latest technology.

As far as imparting values are concerned, School Cinema has been quite a success here. We were trying to design a program on the same lines, but School Cinema aligned with what we wanted. 

Imparting Patriotism, Culture & Civic Learning

I am very particular about restoring our heritage and culture, especially during celebrations in schools. I stress upon the importance of these celebrations, be it annual day or Independence Day. All the performances are based on folk songs or those based on our culture or national pride. I do not encourage film songs which are made only with a purpose of entertainment. This move has helped children connect with our indigenous culture. 

Some of our alumni are in Defence, in IPS, some of them are doctors and some of them work for MNCs. They come back here with pride in their hearts about the values we have instilled in them. Here, at The Guru Nanak Group of Institutions, our idea is to go beyond syllabi and curriculum; we weave values into the fabric of education.

Other Initiatives

It’s our 50th year into service this year. Along with the school in 1975, my father-in-law also started a hospital which now renders multi-specialty service that provides free dialysis every day to around 100 to 130 people. 

Conclusion

The duty of an educator is to instill basic ethical leadership in children and educate them about emotional self-reliance. We are transparent, we promote accountability, and very importantly, when we impart strong values and principles, we can face any challenge that life sends across to us. And of course, the courage to do what’s right when it’s not easy.