PN KAVOORI dedicated her life to educating children and building schools to give children the academic foundation to discover their potential and improve their futures. Through education, PN Kavoori enabled children to change the trajectory of their lives from despair to hope – especially for children with disabilities who are often written off and “unable” and neglected without being given opportunities to achieve their dreams. But PN Kavoori’s decades-long career of educating children gave her the ability to see what others could not. Having passed away in 2024 at the age of 92, here is a look at her journey and impact upon generations of children.
At the time of her passing in April 2024, PN Kavoori had been an instrumental part of Disha: A Resource Centre For Multiple Disabilities since its founding in 1995. Disha transforms the lives of children with disabilities through education and as recently as 2023, our team from Give traveled to Disha to meet PN Kavoori, see the school, interact with the students and witness the impact made by this remarkable nonagenarian academic with a passion for education.
Her passion for education at an early age
Born on December 12th in Rajasthan in British India in 1931, Pearl Nath Kavoori had an aptitude for academics early on. She was a bright school student and her good academic performance continued on to her college years where she was deemed the best female candidate in junior college and graduated with a first division Bachelor of Arts from Agra University in 1952. In addition to being an excellent student, PN Kavoori was engaged in extracurricular activities and showed a special talent in theater arts. She could be seen not just starring in drama productions but also directing plays for her fellow college students.
The following year in 1953, PN Kavoori took her first step as an academic by starting her career as an Assistant Lecturer in the Basic Training College in Ajmer. Her devotion to academics coupled with her ability to help her students chart a course for their future made her a popular teacher and mentor. Eight years later, when she became the first principal of Baroda High School, her role as guide to young people opened her eyes even further to the great potential and capabilities of children and young people.
Education for girls
Girls’ education has been, and continues to be, an area of great need amongst diverse communities across India. Denied an education because of deep-seated and centuries-old discrimination, the future of girls is placed in severe jeopardy without opportunities to study. In 1984, on the special request of Gayatri Devi, of one of the erstwhile princely states, PN Kavoori assumed responsibility of the prestigious Maharaja Sawai Man Singh Vidyalaya school in Jaipur. In this role, PN Kavoori focused on the education of girls and set before her the goal to bring quality education to the girl child in terms of teaching, resources, infrastructure and more.
Disha: A Resource Centre For Multiple Disabilities
Educators always have their eyes and ears open to the needs of their students. This defined PN Kavoori perfectly. Having been an educator for decades now, PN Kavoori witnessed the desperate needs of children with disabilities who were cut off from access to educational institutions that could accommodate their needs and give them the academic foundation to flourish. In the mid-90s, there was only one institute in the entire city of Jaipur working for people with disabilities. Even more disadvantaged were children with disabilities who had no place to receive the support and rehabilitation needed to live independent and self-sufficient lives. She decided to establish a school in 1995 called Disha that would transform the lives of children with disabilities.
PN Kavoori shares that as the principal of an English medium school, she would often be approached by the parents of children with disabilities seeking admission for their children. In her own words, “I saw how talented and gifted these children were and I felt helpless because these children needed specific resources and support which I was not equipped with.” Moreover, no other institutions could give these children the type of education and care they needed. She continues, “so, I decided to quit my job and reach out to as many people as possible to help me start a special school for children with disabilities and started Disha from a rented house”.
In this short video we shot during our trip to Disha in 2023, PN Kavoori shares her heart behind her school and her hope for the future:
Once PN Kavoori got Disha up and running, children with disabilities had a full-fledged school where they received education, rehabilitation, multiple therapies and even skills training for the young adults. The purpose of Disha is to give children with disabilities the educational foundation to equip them for the future. With an education plus training in communication skills, language skills, life skills and others, these children and young people can be integrated into mainstream society and not be left out of living and achieving because of their disabilities.
For 29 years, Disha has educated, rehabilitated and transformed the lives of multiple children and set them on a platform where they have access to higher studies, employment, financial independence and do not have to be dependent on others for the rest of their lives. To ensure that their rehabilitation is long-term and permanent, Disha also trains and counsels the families of the children to be a strong and effective support system for them.
PN Kavoori’s legacy
More than 100 children are enrolled at Disha and the school is carrying on PN Kavoori’s legacy to empower children with disabilities. Her work at this educational institution earned her much recognition and praise, most notably with children from Disha participating in the Special Olympics Bharat. Having passed away on April 29th 2024, PN Kavoori and her legacy is still alive and her work is still impacting the lives of generations of children. Your support to Disha can help the school the PN Kavoori founded continue being a place of empowerment for children with disabilities. To support Disha, you can donate here:
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Shirley has been in the development sector for over 10 years and is passionate about making a change in the world around her, including adopting dogs and writing to make a difference.
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