Located inconspicuously among several other imposing structures here is a fifty-year-old institution that has educated several thousands of students free of cost. Sarvodhaya Middle School in New Colony, Chromepet, is among the few surviving institutions espousing Gandhian principles.

For five decades now,  K.S. Nagalakshmi, once closely  associated   with   Mahatma   Gandhi's Sarvodhaya Movement,  has  dedicated  her life to  the  school  and to  the  cause  of Gandhian principles.

The  relevance  of Gandhian  principles  in  the school  is  evident. Teachers  wear  only  khadi sarees as uniform and  students  are  raised ona  healthy  diet  as  per the  Gandhian Principle at  the  Middle — school   level.  " It all  began  when  a   private  school  run  by the widow of a  leather tannery  unit  owner  in  Chromepet,  gave  up  the  institution  to  the  government in 1956 " recalled Ms. Nagalakshmi.

She was able to raise money to acquire the property through contributions from her family and through the sale of their ancestral property at Keezhapandhal village near Cheyyar in Tiruvannamalai district. Starting with 50 students, the private school was renamed "Sarvodhaya School". It now has 400 students under the care of nine teachers.

But the journey has not been easy. Since 1956, Ms. Nagalakshmi and her team of volunteers have faced several problems. "We always faced problems, in the true Gandhian spirit " she said.

The State Government takes care of the teachers' salary and the noon meal for students. "We have not collected any form of donation even once from people or from other organisations," Ms. Nagalakshmi said, adding that the students belonged to the poorer sections of the society.

While they have managed to provide free education for the past five decades, 83-year-old Nagalakshmi fears they might be unable to continue to run the school with just family funds.

She has now started the "Sarvodhaya Educational Trust" and plans to raise funds from former students and philanthropists committed to Gandhian principles.