The first Saraswati Shishu Mandir in the country and the world is preparing a new generation of RSS since its independence; it has a deep connection with Gorakshapeeth.

The foundation of Saraswati Shishu Mandir, which is the carrier of the Guru-Shishya tradition in Gorakhpur, was laid seven and a half decades ago. Camps have been organized to make children cultured, physically and mentally developed, and skilled.

Gorakhpur, which is known for Gita Press, Gorakshapeeth and the world's longest railway platform, has another historical identity attached to this city - Saraswati Shishu Mandir. It is not only a center of education, but also a laboratory to prepare the future generation of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). This school, located in the Durgabari area of Gorakhpur, was the first school established by the Sangh after independence, which laid the foundation of culture along with education.

The foundation of this school was laid in the year 1952 with the inspiration of preachers like Nanaji Deshmukh, Bhaurao Deoras and Krishna Chandra Gandhi. Initially, this school used to run in a building on rent of five rupees per month. The first principal was Krishnakant Verma. Gradually, this school spread like a banyan tree and thousands of branches opened across the country under the banner of Vidya Bharati.

Deep relationship between Gorakshapeeth and Saraswati Shishu Mandir

Today, education from play-way to 12th is provided in this school, that too in both Hindi and English medium. Currently, more than 3500 students are studying here. The school also has a hostel for 200 children, in which children from far-flung areas live. Around 100 teachers are teaching here. Not only this, 30 tribal children of Shri Ram Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram and 19 children under RTE are also getting free education here.

The relationship between Gorakshapeeth and Saraswati Shishu Mandir is also deep. This relationship has been getting stronger for three generations - Brahmalin Mahant Digvijaynath, Mahant Avaidyanath and now Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. This is the reason that when Yogi Adityanath was made to contest the assembly elections from Gorakhpur in 2022, the Sangh also played an important role in getting him a huge victory by making this school the center through meetings and strategies.

Lakhs of cultured citizens emerged from the school

Today the image of this school is not just that of a school, but has become that of an ideological center. According to Vidya Bharati's state vice-president Ramnath Gupta, more than 25 thousand schools across the country and the world are running on this model of the Sangh, in which about 24 lakh children are studying and more than two lakh teachers are educating and cultured them.

While on one hand Gorakhpur is considered a stronghold of literature, yoga and religious traditions, Saraswati Shishu Mandir Pakki Bagh has also become the strongest link in the education and nation building of this city. This school does not just teach studies, it also makes children good human beings and cultured citizens and this is its biggest specialty.