Pursuit of Building The Best School in Dharwad
- Srushti Basavaraddi
- Oct 2
- 4 min read
When I quit my cushy job in Mumbai and returned to Dharwad, there was only one driving force behind me — an unshakable urge to build schools that focus on the all-round development of every child. A place where each child’s unique ability is identified and nurtured, where learning goes far beyond academics to include sports, life skills, business, finance, and everything else kids are otherwise left to figure out on their own in adulthood.
I dreamt of creating a school children genuinely look forward to going to, and one they’ll fondly remember and cherish for life.
A little about my journey — I come from a lineage of educators. I’m a fifth-generation teacher, and my family has been running one of Dharwad’s top schools, Basavaraddi English Medium School. Teaching, you could say, runs in my veins. And no, I don’t just mean taking tuition for a handful of kids in high school. By the time I was in 7th grade, I was already a part-time teacher at my parents’ computer institute — and if I may brag a little, I was the students’ favorite.
My childhood was shaped by brainstorming curriculum and teaching strategies with my mother, and learning finance and business acumen from my father. Even during my engineering days, I regularly took up teaching. For me, education was never just a profession — it was (and still is) a passion, a family legacy, and a lifelong mission.
As I grew deeper into the world of education, I felt a strong urge to create something end-to-end. I had seen the backdrop of our system up close — teachers making students rote learn through endless homework, entire syllabi built on memorization rather than the ability to think.
But education, to me, must do more. It must prepare children to think for themselves in every aspect of life.
What’s worse, I saw how many schools drained the joy out of children. For me, school should be a place they love coming to — a place they cherish, whether or not they ace every subject. Yes, we’ll push every child to excel, but never at the cost of their confidence.
With the privilege of having worked with thousands of students, I decided to take the plunge — even financially — and return to my hometown, Dharwad, to build the best school the city has ever seen.
How does the best education in look like?
The idea was simple yet powerful — to build a school that prepares children for life. For me, “preparing for life” means much more than academics. It’s about learning sports, life skills, technology, entrepreneurship, leadership, finance, communication, and developing strong social and emotional intelligence.
When I came across Stellar School in Mumbai, I felt their vision beautifully captured this idea — a school that equips every child not just for exams, but for life itself.
But within just two months of trying to implement my idea of “Life Literacy” — or “Education for Life” as I called it — I realized Dharwad’s needs were very different. Children here still needed hand-holding with the basics, and the kind of investment it would take to bring “Education for Life” in its full form simply wasn’t feasible.
So I adapted. Instead of forcing an idea built for a big metro, I created something rooted in the reality of Dharwad — a framework that gives children strong fundamentals while slowly weaving in the skills of life. That’s how the Education for Life Framework was born.
Education for Life — The Basavaraddi Way
“Education for Life” at Basavaraddi Schools, Dharwad, is a toned-down yet practical version of my dream school. It may not cover everything from my ideal vision, but it comes close — and most importantly, it’s feasible and sustainable in a Tier-2 city context.
Principles of Education for Life
Joy in Learning — It’s okay if we can’t teach everything, but children must always feel happy to come to school. Their confidence must be protected and nurtured at all costs.
Every Child is Unique — Expose children to academics, sports, technology, arts, and co-curriculars so they can discover their strengths and weaknesses.
Basics First — True “Education for Life” begins only after basic literacy. Every child must first be able to read, write, and speak fluently in at least one language. This is non-negotiable.
No Rote Learning — Learning should never be reduced to repetition or memorization. Homework must encourage thinking, not mechanical writing, and assessments should test understanding, not recall.
What does of “Education for Life” Include?
Academics — Building strong foundations that encourage critical thinking, self-learning, and genuine curiosity.
Physical — Learning health essentials like nutrition, exercise, and meditation, and building responsibility for lifelong fitness.
Life Skills — Developing leadership, teamwork, and communication as part of everyday learning.
Cultural — Staying rooted in values, traditions, and heritage while being open to the world.
Technological — Equipping students with the skills to thrive in a tech-driven world and become responsible digital citizens.
The last nine months have been all about bringing the idea of “Education for Life” to life. And I’d like to believe I’ve been fairly successful in doing so. What makes me say that? Well — that’s a story for another blog.
Basavaraddi Residential School, Basavaraddi English Medium School, Sharada CBSE School are the best school in Dharwad.
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