This week, we are honoured to publish an article about one of our former distinguished teachers.  In his own words, Nanubhai provides us a fascinating summary biography, including his close historical connection with our school and his role in securing India’s independence and future. 

Nanubhai joined the Bharat Vidyalaya Karadi School at the age of 5 years old. He finished Primary, secondary and higher school education in the same School and subsequently he became the Sports and PT teacher at the same School. He was very well known in the entire district, as a respected and passionate teacher and he eventually joined the Gandhi movement and became a freedom fighter .

By Nanubhai C. Patel 

“I was born in Karadi in 1922. Being born in Karadi was lucky for me because when I was 7 years old I had the honour of meeting Mahatma Gandhi during prayer meetings in the Gham. From Mahatma Gandhi, I have learnt how to live a humble life, how to live independently and a disciplined life through hard work. Gandhi stated at the visit that the Gham should have an independent school. At that time in the Gham there were high levels of under education and unemployment. 

So the school was built and I became a pupil there. It was the good fortune of Karadi Gham that the principal of the school was Manibhai Channabhai Patel who started and promoted educational activities. I was involved in various activities at the school which included hand looming that was run by Dilkushbhai Divanji. During the daytime I would study at the school and in the evenings work hand looming in the Gandhi Kutir. 

The principal, Manibhai’s, firm moto was health is wealth and he encouraged this in all the students of the school. I also built good relationships with leading sportsmen.

During my school years I was a very active sportsman taking part in sports and gymnastics, having started at an early age. The school, led by the principal, allowed me to progress further with this to reach state level competitions and I succeeded in gaining state level success and received an honour from the Gujarat state government for my athletic abilities and for winning competitions. 

I then progressed to teaching at the school specialising in teaching physical education. Shortly after this, the independence movement against the British Government started in Karadi Gham and in India as a whole. I became actively involved in this movement which involved me moving out of Gham for a number of years in order to protect myself from the British authorities. In 1947, the fight for independence was won. Shortly after this, in order to seek work, I moved to Kenya for work leaving my family behind in Gham. 

I was able to find good work using skills that I had learnt in Gham at school such as sign writing.  And in the evening, I taught physical education to students in Kenya. I then proceeded to get a job with East African Airways painting aircraft. Life became settled in Kenya and within a few years of me arriving there Kenya gained independence from the British government also. Life was initially stable in Kenya and therefore my wife and son moved over to join me and family life started in Kenya. In the 1970s citizens had to decide between Kenyan citizenship or British citizenship and due to the better prospects of work in the United Kingdom we moved to England. 

I continued working in the UK, this time signwriting for National Freight Carriers and after retirement became an active member of local Bharat Hindu Samaj and Mandir in Peterborough. For as long as I can, I continued to maintain links during regular visits to Karadi Gham and the school”.