A decades-old school that empowers women and denounces untouchability Premium

Kasthurba Gandhi Kanya Gurukulam: A legacy of women's empowerment, Gandhian values, and inclusive education for underprivileged students.

The nearly eight-decades-old Kasthurba Gandhi Kanya Gurukulam (KGKG) at Vedaranyam, founded in 1946 by freedom fighter Sardar Vedarathinam Pillai, is a legacy of women’s empowerment and a pioneering movement to eradicate untouchability, aligned with Mahatma Gandhi’s vision. The first women’s residential school in the Cauvery delta region was started at a time when female education was undervalued. The school started with only one student; it now serves nearly 2,000 girls, offering a blend of regular academic courses and skill-based programmes that support poor students from rural areas who lack the means to pursue education.

The revival of Gurukulam education — a traditional Indian model in which students, often from affluent families, lived with and served their teacher while gaining knowledge — became more inclusive in the early 20th Century as part of nation-building movements. In Tamil Nadu, establishing schools and hostels for the underprivileged had already been under way, led by Christian missionaries, the Justice Party, and the Theosophical Society, each aligning their educational initiatives with distinct political or philosophical perspectives.

Gandhi’s Nai Talim, or Wardha Scheme, revolutionised education with its ‘learning by doing’ approach, promoting communal harmony, equality, and nation-building through institutions like KGKG.

Writer Chithra Balasubramanian, who documents the Gandhian movements in Tamil Nadu, points to the turning points that motivated Gandhians to take educational initiatives. These efforts began with Gandhi’s Constructive Programme, which he shared with his followers from 1915. In 1932, the establishment of the Harijan Sevak Sangh led to the creation of schools and hostels for Dalits and marginalised communities. After Kasturba Gandhi passed away in 1944, the Kasturba Gandhi National Memorial Trust (KGNMT) was founded in 1945 to support women and children in rural areas, further exemplifying the Gandhian commitment to serving the underprivileged.

In this spirit, Sardar Vedarathinam, one of the wealthiest individuals in the region, was inspired by the Cheranmadevi Gurukulam, which he visited in 1924, and envisioned a similar Gurukulam at Vedaranyam. However, his commitment to the Salt Satyagraha delayed his plans, and he founded KGKG on February 7, 1946.

“Every day, learn gratitude and discipline above all else,” Dravidar Kazhagam founder and rationalist leader Periyar E.V. Ramasamy wrote in the guestbook while visiting KGKG on December 20, 1959. Known for his anti-religious stance, he was deeply impressed when students chose a “secular prayer” by reciting from Thirukkural. Periyar also donated ₹500 and extended material support to the Gurukulam, a gesture fondly recalled by V. Appakutti, a Padma Shri recipient, in his writings.

“Many of those who joined the Salt Satyagraha and endured imprisonment played a crucial role in establishing this school,” said the Padma Bhushan-awardee and 100-year-old Gandhian Krishnammal Jagannathan, who leads the Land for Tillers’ Freedom (LAFTI). Sharing with The Hindu her decades-old connection with KGKG, she said, “Alongside Sardar Vedarathinam, I worked on the ground to educate local communities about caste discrimination while encouraging rural girls — many of whom initially had little interest in schooling — to pursue education. Through consistent efforts, the Gurukulam created an environment in which students valued learning.”