Dr. Devendra Kumawat has spent over four decades transforming education in rural and underserved communities. Starting a school with just ₹5,000 and a vision to make quality education accessible, he continues to inspire students through values, character-building, nationalism, and holistic development.

Highly respected in the education circles, Dr. Devendra Kumawat is the Founder and Director of Jaideep Senior Secondary School in Udaipur, dedicating the last forty-one years of his life to the transformative field of education.

Over his extensive career, he has successfully held numerous prestigious positions and currently serves as an active Executive Member of the Private Schools Association. Furthermore, he is a dedicated member of ‘Sanatan Pathshala’, an organization passionately working to integrate education with deep Indian cultural roots and strong moral values.

Dr. Kumawat’s remarkable journey in the education sector began in 1985 when he officially laid the foundation of Jaideep School. Strongly influenced by his supportive family environment and a deep-seated inclination toward academics, his path into education was exceptionally clear. While he was simultaneously pursuing a demanding Chartered Accountancy (CA) course and stepping into school management, he sought guidance from successful and elderly individuals. They all echoed the same sentiment: the education sector is unparalleled in its nobility. Driven by a desire to work independently, live with supreme self-respect, and make a genuine societal impact, Dr. Kumawat chose to dedicate his life entirely to education.

When deciding where to establish his school, his core philosophy was simple yet profound: work where there is an absolute need. While modern-day Udaipur is a highly developed Smart City, the scenario in 1985 was vastly different. The North Zone of Udaipur was surrounded by small, underdeveloped villages such as Pulla, Bhuwana, Amberi, Shobhagpura, and Sukher. This entire belt was highly backward in terms of education, with several communities completely deprived of learning opportunities.

A strong, negative societal perception existed at the time, falsely claiming that rural children were simply incapable of studying. Being from a rural background himself, this perception deeply troubled Dr. Kumawat. Firmly believing that God has created everyone equal, he recognized that these children were not lacking intelligence, but rather opportunities and proper guidance.

Determined to change this narrative, he strategically chose this highly underserved region. At that time, local families did not understand the value of education, often considering school expenses as the absolute last priority. Undeterred, Dr. Kumawat and his team conducted relentless door-to-door campaigns, often staying out until 10:00 or 11:00 PM.

They patiently explained to parents that education was the only true path to social and familial change, warning them of the highly competitive times ahead. Their sincere efforts yielded incredible results. Between 1985 and 1990, the school's growth graph skyrocketed to the point where they lacked the physical space to accommodate all the admission requests.

During this period of rapid expansion, Dr. Kumawat faced a major career crossroads. He had to choose between actively continuing his CA studies or fully committing to the school. Realizing that while becoming a CA would undoubtedly bring immense financial wealth, it would not provide the profound respect and the deep satisfaction of giving back to society, he boldly dropped his CA pursuit.

Instead, he steered Jaideep School from a primary institution to middle, then secondary, and eventually transforming it into one of the most prestigious senior secondary schools in the district. Today, the school consistently delivers 100% board results, with 80% of the students scoring between 60% and 80%, and an impressive 10% to 15% scoring above 90% marks.

Looking back at 1985, Dr. Kumawat fondly recalls how rare it was to find a 10th-pass girl or a 12th-pass boy in that specific region. Today, thanks to the relentless efforts of Jaideep School, almost every household boasts a graduate or post-graduate. The fragrance of the school’s success has spread everywhere, with its alumni excelling in diverse fields. The area itself has developed so massively that it no longer resembles a rural village, and practically every home has a connection to Jaideep School.

Dr. Devendra Kumawat attributes much of his strong character building to his schooling at Vidya Niketan, where he studied alongside his close friend, Dr. Bhupendra Sharma. It was there he learned the ultimate life lesson: human life is meant for giving to others, and if one commits to giving, the divine automatically takes care of their personal needs.

This deep-rooted spirit of noble societal work seamlessly led to his association with Sanatan Pathshala. Aligning closely with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s grand vision of a fully developed India by 2047, Sanatan Pathshala operates on the core belief that today’s children are the actual foundation of that future India. The organization runs various targeted missions designed to instill deep nationalism, enhance mental maturity, and prepare students for intense global competition.

Actively supporting this cause, Dr. Kumawat has successfully organized three to four major programs at Jaideep School, bringing in highly grounded speakers to share their inspiring real-life stories directly with the students, continually fueling the next generation with profound wisdom and motivation.

A core element of this holistic development at Jaideep School is the Gyan Sabha (Knowledge Assembly), organized every Thursday. Understanding that personality development is just as crucial as academic success, Dr. Kumawat invites successful individuals who have faced immense struggles in their lives to share their personal stories with the students. The children listen intently, drawing profound inspiration to write their own success stories.

Founder of Jaideep School Udaipur, Dr. Devendra Kumawat strongly believes that today’s educational system and parents are often too obsessed with chasing high marks, completely missing the essence of all-round development. He notes that a student scoring 90% might struggle in real life if their personality isn't developed, whereas an average student with holistic maturity can achieve extraordinary success. Operating on the philosophy that talent already exists within the child, the school simply provides the necessary stage and opportunities for them to discover it.

Dr. Kumawat’s deep understanding of struggle stems from his own humble beginnings. He does not hail from a big city; he was born in a small agricultural family in Pulla, a village adjacent to Udaipur. His father was a farmer, and sustaining a large family of four brothers and four sisters on limited farming income was extremely difficult. During those tough times, his uncle (Fufa ji), the late engineer Rooplal ji Tak—whose son Govind Singh Tak later served as a Mayor of Udaipur and also as RPSC Chairman—gave his father a piece of life-changing advice: \\\"Even if you have to eat only one meal a day, make sure you educate your children.\\\" Taking this to heart, his father made the ultimate sacrifice, literally giving up meals to ensure his children received a proper education.

His early education, from class one to eight, took place in a local government school. However, his eldest brother, Shri P.L. Kumawat, noticed extraordinary potential in him and got him admitted to Vidya Niketan for two years. Those two years were transformative, shaping a resilient personality within young Devendra Kumawat where he learned to never succumb to disappointment and to view nothing as impossible. After completing his B.Com from BN College, he started the school in 1985. Realizing that running an educational institution required profound academic qualifications, he didn't stop studying. While managing the school, he successively completed his M.Com, B.Ed, M.A., and eventually a Ph.D. in Education from Rajasthan Vidyapeeth. His Ph.D. taught him invaluable lessons in practical administration, decision-making, and managing large groups. Today, he proudly stands as the first Ph.D. holder in his village, while his brothers also achieved monumental firsts as an engineer and an MBA graduate.

When asked about his role models, being from the historic land of Mewar, Dr. Kumawat naturally draws immense inspiration from the legendary struggles of Maharana Pratap. However, within his family, his ultimate role model and first Guru is his eldest brother, Shri P.L. Kumawat. Having lost his father at a young age, his brother became a father figure. Even though his brother was an RSM officer and not directly in the education field, he provided the crucial motivation Dr. Kumawat needed in the early days of running the school—even waiting outside the Collector's office just to build his younger brother's confidence to go inside and speak. Socially and politically, he was deeply guided by Shri Yudhishthir ji Kumawat, who constantly motivated him and helped him navigate various challenges.

On a national level, Dr. Kumawat draws profound daily inspiration from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He reads the Prime Minister's statements first thing in the morning, admiring his immense influence and viewing him as a visionary leader driving India's global progress. He marvels at how the nation naturally follows the PM's appeals, drawing crucial leadership lessons from his speeches.

To ensure that these high values of duty and responsibility are constantly remembered, Dr. Kumawat has placed a copy of the Constitution of India at the main gate of his school. He wants every parent, visitor, and student to read it and remember their fundamental roles and duties toward the nation. This mindful approach to life and work is the ultimate reflection of a simple yet powerful lesson taught by his uneducated but incredibly wise mother: \\\"Whatever work you do in life, do it thoughtfully.\\\"

Following his mother's wisdom to think carefully before starting any task, Dr. Kumawat adopted another simple yet highly powerful philosophy: once you start a piece of work, never sit down or rest until it is completely finished. Applying this principle everywhere, he acknowledges that while every significant undertaking brings difficulties, the divine blessings of elders and the timely support of well-wishers naturally resolve the toughest challenges. He firmly believes that if the divine presence within you decides that a task must be done, nothing is ever impossible; the path simply keeps moving toward possibility.

A major philosophical guiding force in his life is the teachings of Swami Vivekananda. Dr. Kumawat frequently organizes school programs centered around Swami Vivekananda's thoughts, heavily supported by his close associate, Dr. Bhupendra. The one simple quote that resonates most profoundly with him is: \\\"चरैवेति चरैवेति\\\" (Keep moving forward, keep moving forward). He draws a beautiful parallel between this quote and a constantly flowing river. Just as clear, flowing water never stops, one's karma (actions and duty) must also continuously flow without stagnation. This remains his core life mantra.

Reflecting on his life experiences, Dr. Devendra Kumawat profoundly states that no achievement is ever gained without immense difficulty, and the bigger the struggle, the greater the achievement. Coming from a simple farming family, the massive responsibility of starting a school came with severe financial challenges. In 1985, his pockets were practically empty. He had stopped taking money from his family after the 10th grade because they simply couldn't afford it. To fund his own education through the 11th and 12th grades, he took up private tuitions, painstakingly saving a meager amount of ₹5,000. It was with this tiny savings of ₹5,000 that he laid the foundation of Jaideep School. Today, that humble beginning has transformed into a massive Senior Secondary School nurturing 800 to 900 students.

For renowned educationist Dr. Devendra, true wealth is not financial gain but the profound impact he has left on society. He recently experienced a deeply emotional moment of validation when a family flew down from Delhi, staying at a five-star hotel in Udaipur. The family, including a successful CEO, his wife, his sister, and her husband, specifically visited the school. The CEO proudly brought his entire family of eight just to show them his foundational roots. He took them to the original rural location where the school first started and pointed out the exact classroom where he studied, crediting his massive professional success entirely to the school's environment and the dedication of its teachers. For a teacher who only dreams of seeing his students fly high in the sky, encountering successful alumni daily, whether at weddings or walking around Fatehsagar, remains Dr. Kumawat's greatest, most cherished achievement.

However, the school's rapid growth brought a significant hurdle: the dire need for land. Despite running around the UIT (Urban Improvement Trust) and private sellers, Dr. Kumawat lacked the funds to purchase commercial land. During this stressful period, his father intervened with a practical solution, offering the very agricultural fields where he used to drive the plow and farm. Starting with just a single room built on his father's farmland, that space has now grown into the massive multi-story building that houses the school today.

Despite the prime location of this land, now valued in crores or billions, Dr. Kumawat remains fiercely dedicated to his mission. While wealthy friends frequently advise him to shut down the school and build a lucrative commercial multiplex to make massive profits, he firmly rejects the idea. He insists that while a multiplex would bring money, it would completely steal his peace of mind. Running the school and giving back to the community allows him to sleep peacefully every single night.

His ultimate dream is to make premium education highly accessible. Recognizing that modern education, especially in CBSE or large private schools, has become incredibly expensive and entirely out of reach for average families, he is committed to providing the same high-level facilities to middle-class families at a highly affordable annual fee of just ₹20,000 to ₹30,000. He manages to sustain this solely through the financial sacrifice of utilizing his own ancestral property instead of chasing commercial rents.

Advising aspiring educators, Dr. Devendera Kumawat is incredibly clear: anyone wishing to enter the field of education must first cultivate a pure desire to give back to society. If the primary motivation is just to earn, true progress in this noble field is absolutely impossible.

Addressing the current landscape of the education sector, Dr. Kumawat acknowledges that people today often treat education as a massive industry, entering the field only after investing crores of rupees. However, he maintains a deeply spiritual perspective: if a person's intentions are pure and their determination is strong, the divine provides full support, allowing them to rise from the grassroots to the very top. When people used to ask him the secret behind his school's rapid and phenomenal growth, Dr. Kumawat would always attribute it to two simple rules: maintain excellent behavior and never compromise on quality. He firmly believes that by following these two principles, continuous progress is guaranteed.

Recognizing that today's students are the future youth of India, he emphasizes the massive shared responsibility of schools, society, and parents. He expresses deep concern over the modern parenting trend where parents do not spend enough quality time talking with their children. Consequently, children spend too much time outside, completely disconnected from both the school and the family, which naturally leads to behavioral flaws. To ensure India becomes a fully developed nation well before the target year of 2047, he strongly advises the youth to strictly follow the guidance of their parents and teachers.

With India having the largest youth population, Dr. Devendra Kumawat frequently shares a powerful message from his school's stage: do not just be a job seeker, become a job provider. He urges students to develop their skills to such a high level that they can offer employment to ten or even a hundred people, thereby helping eradicate the country's unemployment problem. He warns that merely chasing a job will only feed one's own stomach but will never result in a truly impactful life. Even with the rising job insecurities posed by Artificial Intelligence and advancing technology, he assures that any young person who timely develops strong skills in their specific field of interest will never fall behind.

Reflecting on the changing dynamics of school discipline, he notes that while schools used to be highly strict, modern media and shifting parental mindsets have made teachers somewhat fearful of disciplining students. Sharing a deeply personal incident, he recalls a time when he used to actively monitor the entire school from various hidden spots. One day, while observing a class through a back window, he saw two students causing mischief while the teacher was busy teaching. He immediately walked into the classroom, picked up a student, and punished him.

However, he later discovered that the actual troublemaker had quickly swapped seats, meaning he had unknowingly punished an entirely innocent child. Ridden with immense guilt, Dr. Kumawat could not sleep that entire night, feeling as though he had committed a massive crime. This profound realization taught him a lifelong lesson: an educator must always be completely alert, think thoroughly, and only take disciplinary action when absolutely certain of a child's fault.

Concluding his highly inspiring life story, Dr. Devendra Kumawat expresses his heartfelt gratitude to everyone for watching and listening to his experiences.