OUR FOUNDER
DESIKOTTAMA Dr G RAMACHANDRAN
Desikottama Dr G Ramachandran, is one of the giants of those who were privileged to be moulded by Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, Mahatma Gandhi and Rajaji, represented a rare synthesis of the values the great men stood for, all their lives. GR distinguished himself as an authentic interpreter of the first two and set himself up as a practical reformer who sought to harmonize Gandhi and Tagore; in constructive ventures and act as bridge between the two.
Dr G Ramachandran met Gandhi at Dilkush in 1921, during Gandhiji’s famous “21 days fast”. He was then a student of Mr C F Andrews at Santiniketan. The discussions GR was privileged to have with Gandhi on the first occasion drew him closer to the Mahatma. Ramachandran soon became an inmate of Gandhiji’s ashram at Sevagram. Under Gandhiji’s direct guidance and supervision he plunged himself into the national movement and the Gandhian Constructive Programme.
During the Freedom struggle, he courted arrest eleven times and spent seven years in jail. Gandhi chose him as a close disciple and entrusted him with several important missions. He was sent to Jamia Millia Islamia as per the request of Dr Zakir Husain where he served as a lecturer in History and taught spinning. Khadi work brought him closer both to the common man and the distinguished Rajaji.
He began Khadi work, selling Khadi yarn and cotton and rose to the heights to becoming the Chairman of All India Khadi and Village Industries Commission of India. During his tenure as Chairman, he started the People’s Education Programme for poor.
His contribution to education, both basic and higher, as well as to Khadi and community development needs special mention. Gandhigram Rural University of which he became the Founder Vice Chancellor is a reflection of GR as an educationist and a constructive thinker. His experiments in Gandhigram showed us how rural children and women could be provided with facilities for growth and all-round development from birth to higher education. Along with his wife, Dr (Mrs) Soundram Ramachandran, he founded the “Institute of Rural health and Family planning Centre”, Institute for “Sanitary Inspectors’ Training” and Kasturba Hospital which won recognition and awards at the National level (especially for services in Family planning and women & child-welfare).
He was a powerful orator and a brilliant writer. His autobiography, “Adventuring with Life” is a true reflection of his times and the aspirations of millions who dedicated their lives for their motherland.The milestones in the eventful life of this multifaceted personality and man of conviction and humour may be summarized as follows : G Ramachandran
