TRIBUTE
Vinod Raina, the eminent educationist who made a significant contribution to the right to education legislation and to enriching science education at the grassroots, breathed his last in Delhi on September 12. He had been suffering from cancer.
Raina (1950-2013) left a comfortable job as a Physics teacher in Delhi University to devote himself to strengthening science and education at the grassroots. This included a lot of work in Hoshangabad district (Madhya Pradesh), preparing new science teaching materials and prevailing upon the State Government to introduce these in its schools. Initiatives like the Eklavya organisation and Chakmak children's magazine were important milestones in these efforts. Vinod worked tirelessly and travelled extensively.
Vinod Raina will be remembered for his invaluable contribution to literacy efforts and more particularly to the Bharat Gyan Vigyan Samiti (BGVS).
One may or may not agree with all aspects of the RTE law, but the nobility of intentions with which Vinod approached the task and the hard work he put in cannot be doubted.
At a more personal level, I'll always remember and cherish my interactions with Vinod at the time of writing for the BGVS.