TAMBARAM: Located inconspicuously among several other imposing structures here is a fifty-year-old institution that has educated several thousands of students free of cost. Sarvodaya Middle School in New Colony, Chromepet, is among the few surviving institutions espousing Gandhian principles.

For five decades now, K.S. Nagalakshmi, once closely associated with Mahatma Gandhi's Sarvodaya movement, has dedicated her life to the school and to the cause of Gandhian principles.

The relevance of Gandhian principles in the school is evident. Teachers wear only khadi sarees as uniform and students are raised on a healthy diet of Gandhian principles at the middle-school level. "It all began when a private school run by the widow of a leather tannery unit owner in Chromepet gave up the institution to the government in 1956," recalled Ms. Nagalakshmi.

She was able to raise money to acquire the property through contributions from her family and through the sale of their ancestral property at Keezhapandhal village near Cheyyar in Tiruvannamalai district. Starting with 50 students, the private school was renamed "Sarvodaya School". It now has 400 students under the care of nine teachers.

But the journey has not been easy. Since 1956, Ms. Nagalakshmi and her team of volunteers have faced several problems. "We always faced problems in the true Gandhian spirit," she said.

The State Government takes care of the teachers' salary and the noon meal for students. "We have not collected any form of donation even once from people or from other organisations," Ms. Nagalakshmi said, adding that the students belonged to the poorer sections of the society. While they have managed to provide free education for the past five decades, 83-year-old Nagalakshmi fears they might be unable to continue to run the school with just family funds.

She has now started the Sarvodaya Trust and plans to raise funds from former students and philanthropists committed to Gandhian principles.

Ms. Nagalakshmi can be reached at 2238 3576 and 94449 51780.

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