Welcome to Jai Bharat and New Jai Hind School, Rajkot

Jai Bharat and New Jai Hind School

Rambha Vilas Rajkot

Mr and Mrs Dalal

Prafulbhai and Virbalaben Dalal

Virbalaben Prafulbhai Dalal 24/8/1932 – 21/2/2022.
Peacefully went to Heavenly abode
at 2.12pm on 21st February 2022.

Wife of Prafulbhai Ramjibhai Dalal.
Mother of Neeshat, Bharat & Jayam Dalal.

You can also write your condolence message on the condolence page so that Neeshat or Jayam can read and respond later.

Jai Bharat Pre-primary School was opened in 1969 by Mrs Virbalaben & Prafulbhai Dalal, and was the first English speaking Montessori schooled opened in Rajkot by an Indian lady. New Jai Hind Primary School was opened in 1970 and both Jai Bharat & New Jai Hind schools offered English and Gujarati education until 1995 for age groups two and half till fourteen years.

Jai Bharat & New Jai Hind School Vision was:

“Every Child Matters. To give a child the environment to learn right from wrong, to strengthen and build character and to give them values to be good human beings”

Virbalaben was supported in her efforts by her Husband Prafulbhai Dalal and he encouraged her educational endeavours in Rajkot. Jai Bharat & New Jai Hind Schools were innovative at the time in not only offering English Montessori but also:

  • Door to door transport service with 3 mini buses and Ayahs in each bus to drop children home
  • Home cooked vegetarian food for all students
  • Large playground, and special play area with Montessori equipment and supervision
  • Creative activities & after school hobby classes and tuition
  • Personalised teaching

Virbalaben Dalal did her Montessori Teacher’s Training Course in Kolkata, and her vision and philosophy was to awaken the inner intelligence in children: Montessori education  was developed by Dr Maria Montessori, a qualified doctor in Italy, based on scientific studies by observing and studying children’s educational development over many years. The Philosophy behind the Montessori education is:

“I am not a teacher but an awakener” – Robert Frost

Virbalaben also wanted to imbibe the Indian Gandhian values and principles in her teaching, and felt that personalised teaching and individual attention to nurture a young child during their development stage was important in a child’s development. She firmly believed:

“Education has to draw out the best from the boys and girls being educated” – Mahatma Gandhi

Virbalaben was a pioneer in education and felt that Montessori education and Gandhian philosophy complemented each other in English education and recognised a gap in Pre-Primary education, when she moved to Rajkot in early 1960s.

The school was run from her residence at:

Rambha Vilas [now converted into Maharaja Apartments],
Opp Chowdry High School,
Kasturba Road,
Rajkot,
Gujarat, INDIA

This website is a legacy to keep alive the inspirational work of Virbalaben & Prafulbhai Dalal, and to share memories and bring together ex-students and teachers of Jaibharat & New Jai Hind Schools.