https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Mahendra_Nath_KapurMahendra Nath Kapur - Revision history2026-07-31T15:57:20ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Mahendra_Nath_Kapur&diff=339359&oldid=prevUpdateBot at 00:14, 6 March 20222022-03-06T00:14:02Z<p></p>
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| name = M. N. Kapur<br />
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| birth_name = Mahendra Nath Kapur<br />
| birth_date = {{Birth date |1910|12|10}} <br />
| birth_place = Gujranwala, [[British India]]<br />
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1994|03|30|1910|12|10}}<br />
| death_place = Delhi<br />
| nationality = Indian<br />
| occupation = Education<br />
| years_active = <br />
| known_for = Principal, [[Modern School (New Delhi)|Modern School]], New Delhi<br>Founder-principal, [[Gyan Bharati School]]<br />
}}<br />
'''Mahendra Nath Kapur''' (December 1910 - March 1994) was an Indian educator. He served as Principal of [[Modern School (New Delhi)|Modern School]], New Delhi, for thirty years. For his contribution to the field of education, he received the [[Padma Shri]], India's fourth highest civilian honour, in 1969.<ref name="padmaawards">{{cite web |title=Padma Awards |url=http://www.dashboard-padmaawards.gov.in/?Year=1969-1969&Award=Padma%20Shri |website=padmaawards.gov.in |publisher=Government of India |accessdate=20 February 2019}}</ref><br />
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== Early life ==<br />
M. N. Kapur was born on 10 December 1910 in [[Gujranwala]] in Western Punjab, now in [[Pakistan]]. After a spell of home schooling, he completed his matriculation from American Mission School, Gujranwala. He studied at [[Government College University, Lahore|Government College]], [[Lahore]], where, apart from academics, he made a mark as a sportsman in the disciplines of association football, boxing and swimming. He obtained his Master's degree in physics in 1932..<br />
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== Career ==<br />
Kapur started his career as a teacher in 1933, in [[Mayo College]], [[Ajmer]].<ref name="modernschoolprincipals">{{cite web |title=Modern School: Principals |url=http://www.modernschool.net/history-principals.html |website=modernschool.net |accessdate=20 February 2019}}</ref> In 1936, he went to the University of London for further training in education.<ref name="dreamamrita">{{cite book |last1=Kapur |first1=Amrita |title=A Dream Turns Seventy Five: The Modern School, 1920-1995 |date=1995 |publisher=Allied Publishers |isbn=81-7023-499-9 |page=58 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mZNhHR1yfzAC&q=m+n+kapur+remembered&pg=PA60 |accessdate=26 February 2019}}</ref> In 1947, upon the retirement of Kamala Bose, the founder-principal of Modern School, the management instituted a search for her successor. M. N. Kapur was chosen despite his young age. Sardar Bhagwant Singh, a member of the management, had this to say: "On just going through the bio-data of the applicants we all thought to ourselves - the cheek of this young man to apply for the post of the Principal of Modern School! But when this young man walked into the room all of us were impressed with Mr Kapur's personality and bearing. ..." After the interviews, the selection committee "... had no hesitation in saying that Mr Kapur would be the best choice for the post ..."<ref name="dreamamrita" /><br />
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Kapur took charge of Modern School in the turbulent times following the Independence of India and its [[Partition of India|Partition]]. He remained Principal for the next three decades, until his retirement in 1977.<ref name="modernschoolprincipals" /> The [[Padma Shri]] was conferred on him in 1969.<ref name="padmaawards" /><br />
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In 1980, [[Gyan Bharati School]] was set up in Saket, New Delhi. Kapur contributed to its vision and took charge as its founder-Principal.<ref name="gyanbharati">{{cite web |title=Gyan Bharati School, Saket, New Delhi |url=http://www.gyanbharatischool.net/school-message-chairman.aspx |accessdate=20 February 2019}}</ref><br />
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== Legacy ==<br />
During Kapur's long tenure, Modern School came to be recognised as one of the leading schools of India.<ref name="eduworldmsbr">{{cite web |title=Modern School, Barakhamba Road, New Delhi |url=https://www.educationworld.in/modern-school-barakhamba-road-delhi/ |website=EducationWorld |accessdate=15 March 2019}}</ref> Personally, he was a mentor to many students at Modern and also at Gyan Bharati. The emphasis he laid on overall development of the personality, and not academic achievement alone, has endured. To celebrate his birth centenary, Modern School Old Students' Association organised a series of events in 2010-2011.<ref name="tributetoi">{{cite news |title=Fitting Tribute |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/education/news/Fitting-tribute/articleshow/7865236.cms |accessdate=5 March 2019 |work=Times of India |date=4 April 2011}}</ref><br />
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A documentary film, titled ''Dhruvtara'' (Pole Star), has been made on M. N. Kapur. The producer of the film is Abhinav Chaturvedi.<br />
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== References ==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
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== External links ==<br />
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fw7o-9Mdzyc Dhruvtara: a documentary film on M. N. Kapur]<br />
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[[Category:1910 births]]<br />
[[Category:1994 deaths]]<br />
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri]]<br />
[[Category:Heads of schools in India]]<br />
[[Category:Government College University, Lahore alumni]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian educators]]</div>UpdateBot