Rajesh Patidar, Shree Academy, Mhow, Indore
Background
When people think about wrestlers, they usually think of tough, strong, and sometimes aggressive individuals. In India, there’s a common idea that wrestlers primarily flex their muscles, leaving their intellectual strength on the mat. Rajesh Patidar, the school leader of Shree Academy, challenges this stereotype. He is not only a seasoned wrestler but also the visionary founder of a school that has positively impacted thousands of students through his unique teaching methods, dedication, and intelligence.
“My journey from the wrestling ring to the classroom shows the power of breaking traditional norms for a greater purpose,” Rajesh adds, pointing out how combining his roles as a wrestler and a teacher has made a big difference.
As a national-level wrestling player, Rajesh honed his skills alongside renowned Indian wrestlers such as Sushil Kumar and Yogeshwar. Emerging from a family deeply rooted in wrestling, he faced the expectations of pursuing wrestling professionally, a dream cherished by his father. However, Rajesh, with a spirit of determination and academic prowess, consistently ranked in the top three throughout his school and college years, ultimately earning a degree in B.Sc electronics.
“I owe much of who I am today to my father’s never-ending support in both my wrestling and studies,” he gratefully acknowledges, emphasizing how he has found a balance between athleticism and academic excellence in his life.
One Incident That Carved The Path To Starting a School
Being a wrestler or having a sufficient educational degree doesn’t always guarantee financial stability, especially if you come from a family with a low economic background. When faced with such challenges, people often need to find extra ways to make ends meet.
“Big changes in life often come from unexpected things,” reflects Rajesh. “One day, the wall of my house fell down while I was practicing, and that moment made me realize how I needed to find alternative ways to support my family financially,” he recalls.
After that incident, Rajesh and his family faced financial hardships, and they sought help from relatives to repair the collapsed wall, but unfortunately, no one helped them. “It was a challenging time, and I felt the need to take matters into my own hands to provide for my family,” he shares, talking about the strength inside him that made him take action.
Using what he knew about electronics and teaching, Rajesh started a coaching center on his father’s vacant field. In the first year alone, around 150 students enrolled—showing how good he was at teaching and how much effort he put in.
“My wife suggested we open a school, and that was another pivotal moment in our journey,” notes Rajesh. “Together, we embraced the idea and that’s how Shree Academy School started. It was the beginning of our adventure in education,” he adds.
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School’s Progress
The school started with 150 students and has now grown to 1200, occupying a space of 35000 sq ft and offering transportation facilities. Rajesh feels proud of many moments that show the school’s success. More than 50 students from the school have achieved recognition at the national, state, and district levels.
“Our success is in what our students achieve,” the proud leader expresses.
Apart from making its students well-rounded individuals, the school has also seen remarkable achievements, including a band performance at a national event in front of the president, representing Madhya Pradesh among the top 24 National bands. It was also recognized as the best school for scouts in Indore by the district officer, and 12 students received the Inspiration Award for Scouts.
“Our students do well in sports and other extracurricular activities, and we secured the 3rd rank in a state-level teaching competition recently. Our initiative of planting 750 trees for the community was featured in the newspaper Dainik Bhaskar,” he emphasizes.
“Our journey is full of innovations that show creativity and practical learning,” Rajesh says. “From simple household tools to high-tech safety devices, our students have shown their inventive skills,” he emphasizes, highlighting the school’s commitment to nurturing innovation. “Our students, even at a young age, are excelling in assembling computers to programming and game development,” he proudly shares, showing the school’s commitment to giving students practical knowledge.
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Relationship with Varthana
“In our challenging times, Varthana really helped us out,” recalls Rajesh. “Their executive told us how the company could assist and provide the necessary funds our school needed.” This came after facing disappointments with banks. “We decided to give Varthana a chance and the loan was sent to the school’s bank account within three days of submitting the required documents.”
“For us, Varthana is like a savior. Their timely support helped us finish pending school projects and get more students enrolled,” he mentions, marking the start of the school’s positive journey.
According to Rajesh, without Varthana, Shree Academy wouldn’t have thrived. It’s been 8 years since they started working with Varthana, consistently relying on them for loans. “Our loan journey with them started at five lakhs and has now reached 75 lakhs. Because of their great services and support, we never felt the need to look for loans elsewhere,” he shares, assuring about their lasting partnership.
Future Vision
Rajesh shares, ”I aim to create an environment where our students not only do well in their careers but also actively help the nation progress,” he concludes, showing his commitment to a bigger and more impactful vision.
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