Dr Vidya Sagar’s alma mater- a residential school at Lyallpur, inspired him to seek not only personal prosperity but also to contribute to societal development by establishing a not-for-profit institution, a world-class school with unparalleled infrastructure and facilities.
In 1994, the Chief Minister of Rajasthan was approached for assistance in identifying an ideal site for a premier centre of learning. Dr Sagar met with the Chief Minister but returned apprehensive, as there was no apparent expression of support. However, to our astonishment, a week later, the District Collector of Alwar contacted us and informed us that the Chief Minister had asked him to extend his assistance in the search for a potential educational bower.
Dr Sagar entrusted me with the responsibility of identifying a suitable land parcel, and what followed was a rigorous search for land in compliance with numerous stringent rubrics- a plot of roughly 200 acres, away from industrial areas, highways, settlements, and high-voltage power lines, with hills in the backdrop.
After reviewing approximately 35 sites, I visited Tijara, and it was a breakthrough moment, as Tijara was a living embodiment of the Utopian land that we had described and sketched on paper. When Dr Sagar was apprised of this, he promptly returned from Berlin, and after a meticulous review, gave his approval for the acquisition.
The acquisition is a story in itself; for the present one, it is relevant to mention that somewhere in the middle of it all, Dr Sagar asked me to take over as the Administrator of The Sagar Shiksha Sansthan and later the school (which of course was yet to be established). Though ignorant about what such a role would entail, I was deeply honoured and happy that he had made me this offer and I accepted immediately. The initial work involved innumerable site visits – averaging five a week. Dr Sagar would accompany me for crucial meetings, decisions or deals. During such visits with him, he began moulding me professionally – on how to write crisp business letters and interact and hold meetings with villagers and senior officials including the Chief Minister.
One day in 1998 when we were to negotiate a contract involving a large amount with a construction company, he asserted before the architects, “Sharmistha will decide.” I was nervous having never dealt with such a humongous amount of money before. He told me to chair the negotiation meeting - I did - and managed to extract a substantial discount. When I went to his office post signing the contract, he was both pleased and very proud. I had many such insightful experiences in the period that followed, each merits a fascinating narration of its own!
While sharing these incidents with you readers, my chief aim is to bring out the character of Dr Sagar – a person unafraid of financial loss when it came to imparting vital lessons to his team. He was accommodating to the genuine mistakes committed by subordinates - there were instances when I messed up, but when it came to Board Meetings, he would, without hesitation, take the blame for my errors. That is how he would protect everyone’s reputation and dignity.
All was going well until December 2010 when Dr Sagar caught a fever of unknown origin. After three months of desperate treatment which proved unsuccessful, we lost him in late February 2011. He left us with his beautiful memories and principles that he lived by and inspired others to follow. For sure, he guided others not by preaching but by doing. He touched so many lives positively; he is always in our hearts. We are committed to carrying forward his crusade for fostering future leaders and seekers, his dream project – The Sagar School- to greater heights as he envisaged. The Sagar family solemnises and stands with us to support our endeavours.
So, this was an account of a truly inspirational man – one who inspired many during his lifetime and continues to inspire lives even though he is not amongst us any longer. The Sagar School stands tall on the virtuous life of Dr Vidya Sagar.
- Ms Sharmistha Julka
