The five-day Jaipur Education Summit 2024 has concluded. The students gained invaluable life lessons from the change makers, industry leaders and educators. JES 2024 an educational festival celebrated the spirit of individualism, as most sessions encourage students to develop independent thinking. Padma Shree awardee Shyam Sundar Paliwal became a pillar of inspiration for students. Coming from a small village in Rajsamand, without much formal education, managed to achieve the mammoth feat of transforming his barren village of Piplantri into lush green areas.The death of his daughter that happened because of dehydration acted like an eye opener for him. He decided then to to make his area green using a drip irrigation system, planting 111 trees each time a child is born, turning himself into an eco-feminist.
Today, his Piplantri model has been adopted by 157 villages that are reaping the benefits of his findings. A true humanitarian at heart, with the collective efforts of the government, he has transformed his society along with his village. He ensured education was given to every girl child, and the practice of female foeticide was also abolished in his village.
‘Anything is possible once you set in your mind to something and you are clear why you want to do it and have the patience to pursue it till the end’ – he said. He pledged that no other child in his village would die of dehydration.
In a completely different part of Western Rajasthan, one more patron of the environment, Mr. Prasanna Puri Goswami, achieved a similar feat, turning the barren hills surrounding the Mehrangarh fort into lush green lands. He, along with his son, planted more than sapling 50,000 over the past 34 years. It was his childhood dream to see the barren mountains surrounding the Mehrangarh fort covered in greenery. Even the untimely death of his son didn’t stop him from fulfilling his vision. According to him, anything is possible once you put your heart into something and remain consistent.
Due to scarcity of water in the area, people initially opposed him, however it didn’t stop him. Later, he also got the support of HH Gaj Singh of Jodhpur, which ensured he continued unhindered. He turned the entire area into an herbal park. Tourists from afar and students often visit the green zone he has created and admire his work. He is a true nature lover at heart, as could be noted by the statement he made – if nature remains alive, we will remain alive.
Do you often question the choices you make? Or is the availability of options making it hard to decide which one is right for you? Then, you are no different than any student. During the session ‘Why youth is confused,’ Karuna Yadav, the director of Sandford High School, enlightened the students. Despite having big dreams, today’s generation doesn’t make the efforts required to fulfil them. She said they lack patience and perseverance to turn their vision into reality. Her words struck a chord in the audience. She encouraged the students to get out of their comfort zone and question their choices in order to ensure they build strong decision-making skills. Being disciplined is rewarding, is what she heavily emphasized, urging students to reach their goals by staying organized.
The Future of Jaipur Education Summit
The team envisions a Pan India summit for the next year, transcending geographical confines. Cultural activities and seminars will be integrated to enhance audience engagement, while traditional sports and competitions will promote sportsmanship among students, as shared by Mr. Sunil Nanaulia, the Founder & Managing Director of the Jaipur Education Summit.
Mr. Nanaulia affirmed, “Only education can bring societal changes, and the Jaipur Education Summit is our effort towards that goal. In coming years, we will continue conducting sessions that contribute to the betterment of society.” The summit, thus, promises to be a catalyst for positive transformations, both in Jaipur and on a national scale.
