“Dr. Pillai’s ‘EduNation’ deserves careful study and evaluation at a time when India is seriously looking for alternative methods of educational expansion beyond mere governmental provision. There are obvious reasons for this: government is under severe financial stress; there are other areas like critical infrastructure where government investments are being planed as priority items; also, there is now a worldwide acceptance of public –private participation mode as a desirable way of providing critical social services like education, health and so on.

In this context, there is much that can be appreciated and emulated in what Dr. Pillai could accomplish within a short span. As one reads the success stories presented by Dr. Vasudevan Pillai in his ‘EduNation’, Dr. Pillai has within a span of 40 years established 48 educational institutions in India – an amazing performance indeed. By his own statement, the variety of institutions set up by him ranges from Nursery to Degree level education, catering to over 46,000 students.

Dr. Pillai’s is a classic story of rags to riches. He started from a small shed where he doubled as Principal, teacher, administrator, trainer and peon, and then rose to the Everest heights of establishing an amazing variety of educational institutions catering to the needs of a motley group of ‘clients’ ranging from nursery to higher degree colleges.

Methodologically, Dr. Pillai experimented with ‘holistic’ approach to all-round development of the student, and in this endeavour he designed new courses of studies and applied innovative principles of teacher-student ratio. Following a carefully designed and imaginative stress-free approach to education, Dr Pillai sought to enrich classroom experience of students transcending humdrum and conventional teaching. In his view, pedagogically, education worth the salt must be interactive and not a one-way process – that will encourage debates, discussions and even dissent among participant students.

To cap it all, his pedagogy, very rightly, incorporates ‘value education’ which is currently being advocated to counter the ‘consumerist’, ‘competitive’, ‘environment-damaging’ and ‘dehumanizing’ culture, posing challenges to our civilizational existence today.

It has been my pleasure to go through such a creative piece of writing. The book is going to be a timely publication for two very important reasons: one, the private sector participation in social development has so far been looked down upon because of its basic ‘profit-orientation’; second, public or government provision of social services seems to have reached its nadir as governments are in most cases close to bankruptcy.

Hopefully, Dr. Pillai’s book will bring our public authorities to their senses, conceding a larger role than at present to the socially responsible and sensitive private sector. I wish the publication a warm reception by the conscientious public.

Dr Vasudevan Pillai’s life is nothing short of a modern-day epic. Starting in a room with a tin roof, an empty wallet and endless dreams, he has gone on to create some of the most creditable and successful educational institutes in the country.

In this book, Dr Pillai - the educationist, educational entrepreneur, visionary, indefatigable crusader and a humanitarian- takes us on a fascinating journey that cuts through the grime and grit of grassroots India, the corridors of power and corruption, labyrinthine bureaucracy and endless challenges faced by an ordinary citizen with an extraordinary intent. EduNation, or a nation educated, empowered and hence free, is Dr Pillai’s rousing philosophy, his mission.

In the book, Dr Pillai skilfully combines personal anecdotes - triumphs, heartbreaks and hope - with a deep understanding of the education systems of the leading nations of the world and a first-hand experience of our own dysfunctional system.

While drawing upon his vast and invaluable experience of setting up his many path-breaking and unaided institutes and initiatives, Dr Pillai, forces us to think and question. He engages us in debate and sensitises us to the stifling, archaic, and counter-productive educational and political system that is struggling to keep pace with the rest of the world.

EduNation –The Dream of an Indian Empowered, is a revelation and a compelling read for anyone who has ever wished for a better educational and value system that creates aware, enlightened and responsive citizens.

Inspired, passionate and terrifyingly honest, Dr Pillai’s is a voice that needs to be heard.

“This is an inspirational story of an individual’s journey as an educator to an educational entrepreneur. Very serious issues relating to childhood, educational enterprise, values, objectives, organization and management are dealt with in a style that is readable and engaging. No one who is concerned with education can possibly have any reservations about EduNation.

Dr. Pillai’s vision is broad and inspiring. What is noteworthy is that fact that he has demonstrated that visions and dreams can be translated into reality with determination, persistence, conviction and sound knowledge of management and marketing.”

“Educators like Dr Pillai recognize the need for new kinds of private educational models and methods that, like the changing world around them, challenge the status quo that is maintained both by local traditions and large-scale government inertia.

EduNation is a remarkable account of the relentless pragmatism-graciously directed toward whatever it takes to serve students, start and sustain good schools.

Given the current global economic crisis, social and political strife around the world, climate change, poverty, malnutrition, and other global concerns, we need more books like this one to guide us in the 21st century.”