Devila J Patel, a pioneer and stalwart in the Kindergarten schooling world of Chennai passed away in Virginia, USA on June 16. She was 91,
She founded and ran Bambino School for close to 50 years in the R. A. Puram neighbourhood.
Born on December 10, 1933, Devila Patel completed her school and college education in Baroda. Subsequently she obtained her bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Learning and Nutrition from Butler University, USA.
A pioneer in Kindergarten education, Devila was ahead of her times in her concept of a good neighbourhood school.
It had to be compact, have a robust student-teacher ratio and, most important of all, a catchment area of 3 kms or less. The environment had to be pleasing; the faculty and staff caring.
Her overriding concern was the safety and welfare of the children in her care. Her aim was to live up to the school’s logo ‘Where Learning is Pleasure’. She succeeded phenomenally. Bambino became the go-to school for most of South Madras and the best-known school in R. A Puram, said the family in a statement.
Devila started Bambino kindergarten in a tiny building on Chamiers Road in 1965. In 1981, she moved to First Main Road, R. A Puram. On popular demand from the parents of her wards, she upgraded her school to primary level.
Devila created the Bambino Educational Trust in 1986 and today, the interest earned from the Trust’s deposits extends donations to charitable institutions in the field of education and supports poor children to pursue their school and college education.
Though she closed down the school in 2013, her legacy lives on, her family said.
She leaves behind her son, Sunit Patel, daughter Sangeeta Prasad and their families. To contact – Bambinoschool@gmail.com
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She was a smiling, caring lady. We used to have staying with her in Chennai. She used bring small small gifts for whole family residing in Vadodara, Baroda, Gujarat , India.