Gijubhai Badheka
Indian Gujarati-language children's writer and educator (1885-1939)
Gijubhai Badheka (15 November 1885 – 23 June 1939) was an educator who helped to introduce Montessori education methods to India. He is referred to as "Moochhali Maa" ("mother with whiskers"). Badheka was a high court lawyer; however, following the birth of his son in 1923, he developed an interest in childhood development and education. In 1920, Badheka founded the "Bal Mandir" pre-primary school. Badheka published a number of works in the field of education including Divaswapna ("Daydreams").
Life
Gijubhai was born as Girjashankar Bhagwanjibhai Badheka on 15 November 1885 in Vallabhipur (Vallabhi) or Vala ( In the Saurashtra region of western India) — once an important port and town of Gujarat, established by the king Siddharaj. Badheka grew up in Bhavnagar, a city in the western Indian state of Gujarat. In 1907, he moved to East Africa and later to Bombay for work. Badheka died on 23 June 1939 in Bhavnagar, India.
Timeline
1885 Birth 15 November, Birth Place: Chittal Saurashtra
1897 First Marriage with Late Hariben
1906 Second Marriage with Late Jariben
1907 Left for East Africa
1909 Return to India
1910 Law Education in Bombay (Mumbai)
1913 High Court Pleader, Vadhwan Camp
1913 Birth of Shri Narendra Bhai (Son)
1915 Legal Advisor of Shri Dakshinamurti Bhavan
1916 Associated with Dakshinamurti Vidyarthi Bhavan
1920 Establishment of Bal Mandir
1922 Inauguration of Bal Mandir Bhavan Near Takhteswar Bhavmandir in Bhavnagar by Kasturba Gandhi
1925 First Montessori Conference, Bhavnagar
1925 Establishment of Adhyapan Mandir
1928 Second Montessori Conference, Ahmedabad (Chaired)
1930 Living in Refugee Camps in Satyagraha Movement, Banar Parishad, Surat, Beginning of Akshargyan Yojna
1936 Discontinued Association with Shri Dakshinamurti Vidyarthi Bhavan
1937 - Respectfully awarded prize (Term translated from Gujrati: Samman Thailly Bheint)
1938 Work in Gujarat; established the last Adhyapan Mandir (Primary Teacher's College) in Rajkot
1939 Died on 23 June, Bhavnagar
Contribution to education
In 1920, Badheka founded the Bal Mandir kindergarten.
The public source identifies “Gijubhai Badheka” as indian Gujarati-language children's writer and educator (1885-1939). This brief keeps that definition visible, then builds a research path around Gijubhai, Badheka and Indian.
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