Page:SELECTED ESSAYS of Dr. S. S. KALBAG.pdf/276

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laboratory research, test it on pilot scale and then to implement it in a production environment. He developed VA programme on the similar lines. Vigyan Ashram began as a laboratory of education, where he could do various experiments and perfect his design of rural development through education and education through rural development. Subsequently, a pilot project was initiated in a limited number of schools. Now the VA model of RDES is at a stage where it is ready to take off towards universalisation. Dr. Kalbag was often asked whether Vigyan Ashram would survive after him. In his peculiar style, he used to ask back whether it was necessary for everything to survive. He belived that one need not keep worrying about such questions. He believed that if the concept is viable, it would survive or may evolve into something else that is useful. At the same time he used to remind people that the students who have started their own enterprises, are success story of their own efforts, my success would be when the system would run without me – he used to say. On the very next day of his demise, on 30th July 2003, VA started functioning as usual. A team of technicians went to install an internet tower at Singeshwar on 31st July. When the villagers wanted to close their shops to pay respect to Dr.Kalbag, VA volunteers persuaded them against it. During last seven years after Dr. Kalbag, the staff and volunteers at VA have given their best to keep the momentum of Vigyan Ashram. It is necessary for us to give readers an update on the present status of Vigyan Ashram and the RDES concept propounded by Dr. Kalbag, six years after his passing away. Programs of Vigyan Ashram 'Development through Education and Education through Development' is a motto of Vigyan Ashram (fig. 1). We believe that it is necessary to use technology to increase pace of our rural Rural Development Through Education System 263