Why the Ideal Schools were renamed in memory of M/S SHAMSUDDIN GHAWTE, RIDWAN HARRIS AND SHAM SUNDER SHARMA.
1. SHAMSUDDIN GHAWTE - IDEAL PRIMARY SCHOOL,THANE.
It is said that one person makes the difference- the LEADER. And this was proved in the case of Rabodi Thane's great social worker MR. SHAMSUDDIN SULEMAN GHAWTE.
Rabodi was like a village in Thane, during 1969. There was only one Urdu medium Primary School in Rabodi, run by the Municipality. For higher education, students had to go to Mumbai / Kurla, for which they had to waste lot of time, energy and money, daily.
MR. SHAMSUDDIN GHAWTE, who had undergone the said ordeal, became Rabodi's first graduate ,when he passed B.Com from Sydenham College, Mumbai, in 1957.Thereafter, he studied further and became the first Chartered Accountant of Rabodi. Then, he joined Surat Electric Co. Mumbai, as Company Secretary. During 1969, Shamsuddin floated the idea of starting an Anglo- Urdu school in Rabodi, where the medium of instruction would be Urdu- mother tongue of students and English as mandatory language from Nursery/ K.G. level. The main reason was to enable the students to have modern education ,till high school level, nearer to their residence.
Shamsuddin's goal was to impart quality education to the students ,which would help them in retaining moral and cultural heritage and groom them as responsible and valuable citizens. Shamsuddin's idea was appreciated and fully supported by the local educated youngsters as well as respectable/ educated adults of Rabodi and surrounding areas of Thane. Besides, local Trusts , the then Vice- President of Zilla Parishad, Thane. Mr.Ridwan Harris, also came forward to support Shamsuddin's dream project. And on 6th April ,1969, Ideal CLASSES ( Nursery & K.G.) were inaugurated at Rabodi, Thane, by Mr.Ridwan Harris. With the whole hearted support of prominent personalities of Thane and Mr.Ridwan Harris of Bandra, Mumbai, Ideal Education Society, Rabodi, Thane ,was registered in April,1970, under Public Trust Act , whose Founder Trustees were M/s.Ridwan Harris, Shamsuddin Ghawte & Younus Mahimi.The Trust was formed to look after and manage the Ideal Classes, which blossomed into Ideal Primary School, gradually.
The School continued to make good progress. Around 1982, Shamsuddin's office was shifted to Surat City. He continued to work as Company Secretary. However, he had to shift his family, from Thane to Surat
On 10th January, 1988, a friendly cricket match was organised at Surat, between the Management Team & Staff Team of Surat Electric Co. Shamsuddin Ghawte was leading the Management Team, as the Captain. While opening the innings, Shamsuddin hit the first ball , which crossed the boundary line. Shamsuddin was delighted and he raised his bat high in the air, in excitement. Unfortunately ,at that moment he suffered severe heart attack, whereby he felt on the ground and lost his life, instantly. His last rites were performed at Surat. Shamsuddin's demise was a great loss to Ideal Education Society, Rabodi, Thane. After few says, a special condolence meeting was organised by the members of the Ideal Education Society, at Rabodi Thane, to pay homage to the departed soul.
In recognition of late Shamsuddin's sacrifices, sincere and dedicated voluntary services as the founder Trustee & Secretary General of Ideal Education Society, Thane, for about 18 years, it was unanimously Resolved in the said meeting ,to dedicate and re- name the Ideal Primary School, as Shamsuddin Ghawte Ideal Primary School, Thane in fond memory of Late Shamsuddin Ghawte.
This proposal of re- naming the school ,was also approved by the Thane Municipal Corporation.
2. RIDWAN HARRIS - IDEAL HIGH SCHOOL & JR.COLLEGE
MR.RIDWAN HARRIS, a graduate in Arts from Bombay University, who belonged to Nala-Sopara of Thane District, had been associated with educational and social activities right from his young age. He shifted with his family, to Bandra, Mumbai.
Since he was appointed as the Vice -President of Thane Zilla Parishad , he was approached by Mr.Shamsuddin Ghawte, who requested Mr.Harris to join him and guide him in his mission of setting up of a Anglo -Urdu medium School in Rabodi - Thane. Mr.Harris welcomed the idea and assured full support for the noble cause of education. Under the guidance of experienced Mr.Ridwan Harris, "Ideal Classes" were inaugurated on 6th April 1969, at Rabodi Thane ,at the hands of Mr.Ridwan Harris. Thus, the foundation was laid for the Ideal Primary School at Rabodi.
Mr.Ridwan Harris guided and helped Mr.Shamsuddin Ghawte, in forming and registering the Ideal Education Society, in April 1970, under the Public Trust Act, 1960.
As such, the Management of the Ideal Primary School was taken over by the Trust of the Ideal Education Society, thru' the founder Trustees, M/s. Ridwan Harris, Shamsuddin Ghawte and Younus Mahimi. Mr.Ridwan Harris was unanimously elected as the founder President and Shamsuddin Ghawte as the founder Secretary General of the Society in, 1970.
Under the able stewardship of Mr.Ridwan Harris as the President and the Trustee , the Ideal Primary School progressed steadily and after few years, was upgraded to High School and into Jr.College, later.
Mr.Ridwan Harris, who was well known for his cheerful dispositions, was a thorough gentleman, who commanded high respect in the Muslim Community as well as among the non- Muslim colleagues. He was a popular social worker and was actively associated with prominent educational institutions of Mumbai and Nala-Sopara.
Mr.Harris was elected as M.L.A. from Bhiwandi constituency of Thane. And few years later, he became M.L.C.in the Govt.of Maharashtra.
Mr.Harris' proximity to Govt. had been of great help for Ideal Education Society / Ideal School, Thane, for securing approvals for its proposals, faster.
Mr.Ridwan Harris- the founder President and Trustee of the " Ideal", expired during the year 2005, after brief illness. It was a great loss to the organisation. He was cremated in Nala-Sopara- his native place.
In order to pay homage to the departed soul of Late Ridwan Harris, a special General Body Meeting was organised by the Ideal Education Society, Thane, at Rabodi, in which ,as proposed by Mr.Sham Sunder Sharma- Vice President, it was unanimously Resolved to re- name the Ideal High School & Jr.College, Thane, as RIDWAN HARRIS Ideal High School & Jr.College. , in fond memory of Late Ridwan Harris.
The said re- naming proposal was granted approval by the Education Dept. of Zilla Parishad Than, later.
3. SHAM SUNDER SHARMA - IDEAL PRE- PRIMARY
Mr.Sham Sunder Sharma- a Hindu Brahmin Hindu Brahmin, was born in Amritsar, in 1934. He passed his Matriculation exam. Thru' Urdu medium. Thereafter, he passed Mechanical, Electrical and Civil Engineering exams.
He migrated to Thane city and got employed in an Engineering Company. His passion was to do something different, for which he kept on experimenting. Ultimately, his innovations in fiberglass grinding wheels, helped our country to save lot of foreign exchange. Sharma- a Hindu Brahmin innovations earned him President of India's Gold Medal, twice, for saving valuable foreign exchange.
After few years, Sharmaji started his own business of industrial exhaust fans, in Thane.
Sharma- a Hindu Brahmin few employees were residing in Rabodi Thane. Thru' them, Sharmaji came to know about a Urdu medium school of Rabodi, called Ideal School. Since he was an ardent lover of Urdu, he approached Mr.Shamsuddin Ghawte- Secretary General of Ideal Education Society, Rabodi, Thane and expressed his desire to join the organisation. Mr.Shamsuddin welcomed Sharmaji and introduced him to the President - Mr.Ridwan Harris.
Sharmaji received a warm welcome from both of them and soon, Sharmaji was enrolled as Patron Member of the Ideal Education Society in 1973. Sharma - a Hindu Brahmin dedication and whole- hearted support for the noble cause of education, thru' Ideal School, earned him the prestigious position of the Vice President, in the next Annual General Meeting of the Society.
Sharmaji used to visit the School ,daily. He used to ensure cleanliness, discipline, safety, and ways & means to save water, electricity and environment, in the School. Sharmaji was a good reader of books , and news papers. In view of Sharma- a Hindu Brahmin educational and social work in Thane ,he was elected as the President of the Rotary Club Of Thane(North).
During his tenure he helped Ideal High School, Rabodi, Thane to install "lnteract Club", under the Rotary Club Thane(N). Probably Ideal was the first ever Urdu medium School in India to have an lnteract Club, under Rotary International. Sharmaji & Harris saheb were working in tandem for the Ideal Education Society. Sharmji used to respect Harrirs saheb as his Guru.
Since Sharmaji had no issue ,he had adopted a girl child - Rinku, from a poor family and got her admitted in Ideal School. After few years she expired due to illness. Sharmaji donated a new Class room in her memory to Ideal High School and dedicated the same in the name of Late Rinku Sharma.
Sharmaji also donated another new class- room in Ideal High School, and dedicated it to Late Abdul Gaffar Patel , Sharma- a Hindu Brahmin close friend and the Vice President of Ideal Education Society, who expired in 1997 , due to an accident.
Sharmaji had great respect for Muslims and lslamic culture. While presiding over any meeting or function in Ideal Schools, he used to cover his head with a handkerchief, when the proceedings used to commence with tilawat- e- Quran, or whenever he happened to hear Azaan.
He used to derive immense pleasure , whenever he used to address the gatherings in Ideal Schools, and commence his speech with loud "As Salaamo alaikum! ", as the audience would loudly respond with "Wa- alaikum Salaam", in unison. Sharma- a Hindu Brahmin face used to beam with joy, whenever small boys and girls of K.G./Nursery classes would reach him, in School hall, to shake hands with him. Unfortunately, on 13th June, 2019,Sham Sunder Sharma passed away, after prolonged illness, in a hospital , in Thane. It was a great loss not only to Ideal Education Society, but also to the Thane City as Sharmaji was well known for his gentlemanly behaviour.
After his demise, Ideal Education Society, organised a condolence meeting to pay homage to the departed soul. Members of the Ideal Education Society, unanimously decided to re - name Ideal's K.G. & Nursery sections, as SHAM SUNDER SHARMA IDEAL PRE- PRIMARY, in his memory.
Ideal Education Society, Thane, feels proud to state that Late Sham Sunder Sharma- a Hindu Brahmin, had been the President and the Trustee of a Muslim educational institution, known as Ideal Education Society, Thane , for a long period.
This is a unique example of National integration.
