Mummy Ji – The Inspiration
Swaran Khaitan was born in the picturesque town of Simla to the Gupta family. She graduated from Lady Irwin College, New Delhi and later married Shri. Durga Charan Khaitan in 1958. Blessed with two children, Deepak and Anupma and four grandchildren, Mummyji’s life had its ups and downs, especially when she lost her husband at a young age.
Nevertheless, she persevered and threw herself into her new role. Mummyji started to play a more active part in business and continued her charitable responsibilities with renewed vigour. A woman with keen business acumen, she started a boutique in Aligarh and trained 15 tailors, encouraging them to move on and make a comfortable living for themselves. She also ran a canteen through the PTA of her children’s school in Aligarh for several years.
When the Khaitan family moved to Goa and decided to start a CBSE school, Mummyji became its heart and soul. For many of the parents, educators and learners, Mummyji embodied Sunshine. She was always there to lend a listening ear to any and everyone. She had a soft corner for the children and all of them knew her as ‘Dadiji’. The reason that people loved her so much was that she had no airs about her prowess, but was simple and down to earth. We would often watch her driving a hard bargain with contractors, plumbers and painters to do a good job and to do it on time. It was her knack of speaking to them as equals which made people go away smiling, even if they had not got the deal they wanted. If we were ever stumped about how we could get something done, she invariably would pull out a solution from one of the various hats she wore. She was a woman of many talents and it was comforting to know she was always there to lean on. During the period she was unwell, she still stayed in touch with the school staff, offering whatever advice and help she could from home over the phone. She encouraged many of the mentors to hold on when they thought of quitting because of problems at home and told them that women must have an identity of their own and an independent income. Some of the educators were able to stay on and they still speak of her with gratitude.
Mummyji always wished that she should see the school grow into a strong institution with happy children pouring in each day from all corners of Goa. That wish of hers did come true with her blessings. The school is growing from strength to strength, becoming a leading CBSE school and the only IB International Baccalaureate school in Goa. We know that Mummyji has not gone away. We still feel her presence in the school, in the legacy of love and goodwill that was part and parcel of her personality. We celebrate in this eulogy, the life of a woman who knew how to live life to the fullest.
Founder Message
“I welcome you to the world of Unconditional Happiness at Sunshine.” Ours is a school with a unique and innovative model of education. We work towards imparting quality education with value systems that would prepare children to adapt to future challenges in a creative manner. We aim at creating a new world of global and humane achievers whose competence creates an unconditionally happy world respecting nature and diversity. We carefully create the ambience that would help a child grow into complete individual. As a team led by visionaries, Sunshine staff stays motivated all the time to learn and march ahead towards the goal of achieving excellence and competence. We together share a vision of:
- Nurturing children in a positive and stress free atmosphere
- Building competence over competition
- Discovering uniqueness of each child
- Developing entrepreneurial attitude and visionary mindset
- Inculcating holistic view of life
- Creating adaptable and open-minded individuals who benefit the society at large
Managing Director
93
FULL TIME FACULTY
1:8
STUDENT/TEACHER RATIO
80
PERCENTAGE OF MASTER DEGREES
765
CURRENT ENROLLMENT