Sahyadri School

Sahyadri School is a boarding school, located in the Sahyadri ranges of Maharashtra. It is run by the Krishnamurti Foundation, India (KFI), on the teachings of the philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti. It is believed that it was Krishnamurti's wish to have a school in Western India, and after he breathed his last (1986), the Foundation began working on the setting up of this school.

The first group of students to graduate from Sahyadri was in 1999 with the tenth batch graduating in the upcoming year, 2008.

It is the youngest school amongst all the KFI schools all over the world.

The school is off the Pune-Nashik highway, at a distance of approximately 25 kilometers from Rajgurunagar (Khed). The closest cities are Pune (75 km) or Mumbai (a little less than 200 km).

The Locale

Sahyadri School is located on Tiwai Hill, a hill in the midst of the Sahyadri Range. Surrounded by the undisturbed, pristine hills, Sahyadri School provides all its residents with lush green surroundings and unpolluted air. The location used to be owned by the Firodias, and it is thanks to them that the school has been built on that spot.

The school overlooks the Bhima River. A little down the river is the Chaas Kaman Dam, and its reservoir stretches till the foothills of Tiwai Hill. Students are taken down to the reservoir, and are sometimes allowed to swim under the supervision of teachers.

The closest villages are Gundalwadi and Dharakwadi, which lie in the valleys on either side of Tiwai Hill. The town Wada is at a distance of 5km from the school, and is the nearest town with facilities such as a telephone booth, general store and chemist.

Tiwai Hill is a an altitude of 770m above sea level.

History of the school

Krishnamurthi had been coming to Western India regularly to give public discourses and talks. People from the region had expressed their wish to have a school run on his principles in the locale. It was also Krishnamurthi's wish that there be a school in Western India.

Through the tireless efforts of the late Sri. Achyut Patwardhan, and help from many well-wishers, the foundations to the school were laid. The school was opened to students on the 10th of September, 1995. This day is considered as the school's birthday and is celebrated by everyone associated with the school. The celebrations generally comprises cultural programs, and interaction among alumni, current students, faculty and parents alike.

Life at the school

Sahyadri School is a co-educational institute. The school accepts students in grades 4 to 10. The students stay in hostels, and school six days a week.

The school prefers to stress on education and learning as a whole, rather than purely academically. This is based on concepts on the late philosopher, Jiddu Krishnamurti.

Principals

1. Mrs. Uma Kalyanram(1995-1998)
2. Mr. Gopalan(1998-1999)
3. Mr. Chittaranjan Kaul(1999-2001)
4. Dr. Parekh
5. Mrs. Geetha Iyer
6. Mr. Amresh Kumar.

Previously, Mrs. Uma Kalyanram was the junior school Mathematics teacher at Rishi Valley School, Madanapalli, Andhra Pradesh, another school run by the J. Krishnamurthy Foundation. She was also the Carnatic Classical music teacher at that school, along with Mrs. M.L.Vasanthakumari.

Wildlife at the school

Being located in the Sahyadris, the school witnesses a large variety of flora and fauna. The reservoir exposes the locality to many water birds, such as the kingfisher. The area also boasts a rich variety of trees.

Just few kilometers away lies the town of Manchar, where there have been a lot of reported leopard sightings. There have also been some stray sightings on Tiwai Hill, and in the nearby areas.

Other schools of the Krishnamurthi Foundation

1. [http://www.rishivalley.org Rishi Valley School]
2. [http://www.theschoolkfi.org The School]
3. [http://www.rbsvaranasi.org Rajghat Besant School]

References

[http://www.sahyadrischool.org Sahyadri School (KFI)]