India, with a population of 1.2 billion people currently has a shortage of 4,00,000 schools. There is an urgent need to address this huge problem through large multi-location projects aimed at correcting a macro imbalance in not just the economy but in our very social fabric which is in danger of being torn apart by large income in-equalities and growing religious and caste intolerance.

As India is a multi cultural society with several faiths co–existing side by side, there is a critical need for our children to study together to understand various religions so that they appreciate the essential unity in their message. In this context, the concept of the Nataraja symbol above becomes especially relevant. The Nataraja is the ultimate symbol of balance and poise achieved after overcoming ignorance in its every form in an increasingly dynamic world. The ancient culture which it represents has been able to endure and assimilate outside influences and make them its own. The dancing figurine is therefore accepted universally as representing all that is Indian , right from the Chola period 880 – 1280 AD . We have taken this symbol to represent the foundation as it represents values which we hold sacred.

The Natraja foundation will be setting up schools to provide the finest education possible at an affordable cost and we are therefore looking for sponsors who have a genuine and serious interest in furthering the cause of education in the country. The schools will be run by a very distuingshed governing board consisting of eminent educationists , judges , senior defense officers , well known industralists and noted artists. It will therefore be a completely autonomous institution that will maintain the highest standards of rectitude in the conduct of its operations free from outside influences.

The defining characteristic of the schools will be their ability to produce leaders out of the children who pass through their gates. We will not regiment the children who study here but will give them the opportunity to excel and be leaders in the field of their choice. The larger schools will be from classes 5 through 12 as it is in this period that a child’s personality gets molded . The schools will also be entirely residential for students and faculty and there will be a choice of curriculum between the central board ( CBSE ) and international syllabi . Phase 1 of the implementation will see the first school being commissioned by 2011. The other schools in the group will be commissioned under phase 2 and will essentially be on the same format. There will also be smaller schools in the group at the pre - primary and primary level which will be commissioned in Phase 3 . These will however be day schools upto the 4th standard and will be located closer to the homes of the children.

Finally, leadership within the institution will be based on ideas. The founder trustees see themselves only as enablers for the creation of an institution where excellence and its pursuit will be the only criterion of any import.

The Nataraja Foundation is a registered Public Charitable Trust.