Boston – Vidyabharati New England welcomed its leadership to Boston with a gala and reception, attended by about 100 members of the Indian-American community.
The event was graced by entrepreneur Desh Deshpande; serial entrepreneurs Venkat Srinivasan and Subu Kota; philanthropists Samir Desai and Satish Jha; and distinguished academics including Prof. Ujjayant Chakraborty (Tufts University), Prof. Vijay Kumar (MIT), and Raminder Luther (Salem State University), among others. Vidya Bharati Vice President Rajendra Prasad Khaitan served as the chief guest.
On the sidelines of the gala, Vidyabharati New England secured major financial commitments to advance its mission of transforming education in India.
The event also celebrated the transformative efforts of Jha, whose work in education continues to set benchmarks for innovation and impact.
Boston-based Sodhani Foundation has built two schools for Vidya Bharati in India. Meanwhile, the Ashraya Foundation—supported by the Jha family—has empowered a dozen schools in Rajasthan and four in Jammu, implementing cutting-edge digital learning solutions.
Ashraya’s digital initiative reaches approximately 9,000 students, with a cost model of $500 per student in the first year, followed by $200 in subsequent years. The program focuses on learning outcomes, rather than simply deploying technology.
In collaboration with Edufront, Ashraya provides:
- Tablets for every student
- Interactive panels in every classroom
- Curriculum-aligned digital content
- Custom-built apps for teachers and students
- Robust training programs
- Continuous monitoring and assessments.
The foundation also runs a hands-on STEM program named Pingal, inspired by Rishi Pingal, a pioneer of the binary system in 300 BC.
“We are thrilled by the overwhelming support from our community and the commitments made to advance Vidyabharati’s vision,” a Vidyabharati New England spokesperson said in a statement. “These initiatives will empower thousands of students with access to quality education and cutting-edge digital tools, fostering a brighter future for the next generation.”
