Bahrain: Mrs. Vasanthi Krishna Rao is the unsung and forgotten founder (along with 3 others) of a 65 year old icon of Bahrain – the Indian School in Bahrain.
Mrs. Rao hailed from Mangalore and was based in Mumbai, before getting married to Mr. Athavara Krishna Rao, who was working for British Petroleum in Bahrain. Soon after her marriage she moved to Bahrain to join her husband and in 1950, at the tender age of 20 years.
She was one of four determined people who were involved in the founding of the prestigious Indian School in Bahrain. She was the first Headmistress of this school and served in this capacity from the year 1950 to 1960. Her original vision and actions have shaped the dreams of many youths since then.
The Indian School which was established in 1950 with a strength of just 35 students, three teachers and a headmistress today boasts of a student strength of over 12,000 students and an enthusiastic workforce of 600 staff members. It provides educational facilities for the children of Indian origin in accordance with the syllabus of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), New Delhi. . It is one of the largest expatriate schools in the Arabian Gulf with strength and it has made significant progress towards education excellence
Mrs. Rao returned to India in February 1968 and continued to teach in Rajasthan until 1976. Undeniably she was a dedicated teacher and was recognized by all including her principal and colleagues for her diligence & dedication towards her work.
The school celebrated its golden jubilee in the millennium year,but failed to either locate her or recognize her contributions. The family was pained. Mrs. Rao left for her heavenly abode on 20th January 2011.
Now the Indian School Chairman Mr. Abraham John and his managing committee have posthumously recognized her contribution with an exhaustive article in this year’s school souvenir and have also agreed to install her portrait in the School Library very soon.
The family is now at peace. The Chairman had also invited her son, Sathish Rao to Founders Day Celebration at the Riffa Campus on 14th October 2014, which he unfortunately could not attend.
