Desu Rathod, Revanasiddeshwar Primary School, Gulbarga, Karnataka
The Inspiration Behind Opening a School
“Kannada ulasbeku, Kannada belasubeku (Kannada must thrive and grow),” is the guiding motto of Desu Rathod, a dedicated school leader. Hailing from Afzalpur in Karnataka’s Gulbarga district, Desu’s dream led him to Athnoor Hubli, 14 kilometers away from his hometown. Initially, all the teachers in his community worked together providing coaching locally. However, driven by a shared desire to make a greater impact, he realized that merely offering coaching wasn’t enough. This led to the envisioning of a school that could shape young minds for generations.
He added, “When my fellow educators invited me to join their mission, I embraced the challenge wholeheartedly”. With a humble beginning in a small house, he laid the foundation for the school, starting with just four teachers and one class. From those modest beginnings, Desu—the visionary leader and sole founder—has nurtured the school into what it is today, running it successfully and passionately, proving that great things often start from small beginnings.
Desu holds multiple degrees, including an M.A., B.Ed., and M.Ed., all completed in Kannada medium. His career began with teaching primary and college students, but his dream was to run his school.
In 2007, he founded Sri Revanasiddeshwar Lower and Higher Primary School under the Sri Revansiddeshwara Rural Development Education Trust. Starting small in a modest house with four teachers and a few students, the school has now grown to 8 acres, with over 300 students and classes up to the 8th grade.
Despite the high demand for English-medium education, Desu boldly started a school in Kannada. His strong love for his mother tongue and belief that education should connect to local culture has shaped his inspiring journey.
Overcoming Financial and Logistical Challenges
Starting a school wasn’t easy, especially for Desu, who came from a modest background. He recalls the challenges of finding funds for classrooms, playgrounds, and facilities. It took him nearly 17 years of hard work to finally move the school into its permanent building.
He says, “Starting a school away from my hometown and securing finances was tough.” Yet, his determination to create a quality Kannada-medium school kept him going.
Desu credits much of the school’s growth to his partnership with Varthana. He took his first loan of ₹4 lakhs from Varthana to improve the school’s infrastructure and later secured another loan of ₹22 lakhs to buy more land. With Varthana’s support, the school expanded step by step.
That’s not all! – In an era dominated by English-medium education, Desu faced the challenge of convincing parents to choose Kannada medium. He believes mastering one language thoroughly is more valuable than struggling with two. He explains to parents the advantages of Kannada-medium education.
Quality teachers for English-medium classes are scarce in the region, meaning students may not receive the best instruction. Additionally, since most parents are Kannada speakers, they often struggle to support their children’s learning if it is in English. Inconsistent teaching in English can also hinder students’ progress, leaving them without strong skills in either language. Desu’s focus is on showing parents that a solid foundation in Kannada can lead to greater educational success.
“Studying in our mother tongue makes it easier for children to understand and excel,” the school leader emphasizes. His honest communication with parents has helped maintain the school’s student strength and trust within the community.
How is It Going?
Creating a school from the ground up was not just a goal but a mission fueled by Desu’s unwavering determination. With a clear vision to provide quality education in Kannada medium, Desu dedicated himself to building a school with standardized classrooms, playgrounds, and top-notch teaching facilities. However, the path was anything but easy. He added “It took me 17 long years of relentless effort to complete the construction and shift the school to its new premises, which is now a moment of immense pride and achievement.”
The school, which now offers classes up to the 8th grade, stands as a beacon of hope for the community. In a region with very few Kannada-medium schools, Desu’s institution fills a crucial gap, providing children with education rooted in their mother tongue. Beyond academic success, having a Kannada-medium school also ensures eligibility for government aid, enabling the school to sustain itself and offer affordable education to all.
The school has developed an effective strategy to bridge learning gaps. If students struggle with certain subjects, they are temporarily moved to lower-grade classes to strengthen their fundamentals. After spending one or two months mastering the basics, they rejoin their original class, ready to move forward. This innovative approach ensures that no student is left behind in their academic journey.
While the core medium of instruction remains Kannada, Desu has made sure that English is not neglected. English is taught as a subject, with a focus on building students’ communication skills through spoken English coaching sessions. As a result, students not only gain confidence in expressing themselves in English but also develop a strong foundation in both languages. Mr. Desu’s school exemplifies the perfect balance between cultural pride and modern competency, equipping students to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world.
The school’s commitment to quality education is reflected in its achievements. Students participate in competitive exams like Murarji Desai and R.N.S. exams, achieving notable success. The school proudly ranked 5th in the district in the Murarji Desai exams.
While emphasizing his vision, Desu highlighted that completing the school building with the help of Varthana was a significant milestone. He says, “Now that we have our own space, we can focus more on academics, co-curricular activities, and overall student development.”
Desu has also set ambitious goals for the school’s future. His plans include expanding classes up to the 10th grade and increasing enrollment to over 500 students.
He envisions transforming the school into a residential institution with hostel facilities and enhancing classrooms with smart boards to elevate the learning experience. Furthermore, he is dedicated to empowering teachers through continuous professional development and targeted training programs.
With a vision to grow further, Desu remains committed to nurturing young minds in the Kannada medium while ensuring they have access to modern resources and opportunities.
His relationship with Varthana grew so strong after his school’s success that he referred the institution to other schools, bringing them on board as customers as well.
Wrap-up
Concluding the discussion, he says “Varthana’s help enabled the school to maintain learning continuity.” The journey of Sri Revansiddeshwara School under Desu’s leadership is an inspiring story of determination, passion, and cultural pride. Through his tireless efforts, Desu has ensured that the students in his school receive the best of both worlds: a deep love for their language and the skills to thrive in the modern world.
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