Soulful स्कूल | Session 6 | Sachin Desai - Syamantak - "University of Life", Dhamapur

Sachin Desai, age 45, born and brought up in Mumbai. Started career from hospitality industry. Later started a firm in computer-aided learning. Initiated this unique concept from the remotest tribal village schools of Madhya Pradesh in 1998. Left Mumbai forever and expanded this concept in Madhya Pradesh. After marriage both of us felt need to migrate from Bhopal to rural village to groom our daughter in “Gramin Sankriti”close to nature. Our grandfather who is also our spiritual guru inspired us to migrate to our 90 years old ancestral house in Konkan region of Maharashtra. The house was well constructed with Laterite stone and lime by our great grandfather who had eventually migrated to Kolhapur to work as Professor of Mathematics. The house was not in use for a decade. We migrated to Dhamapur village in 2007 with our 3 years old daughter Mrunalini. A learning centre called “School Without Walls” was started accommodating 4 students. Two from a local orphanage who had passed their class X and 2 dropout students from middle class families in Madhya Pradesh. Later with better understanding towards rural economy and lifestyle the centre evolved into a sustainable living centre & was renamed as “University of Life”

#Euro news made a documentary on “University of Life” which was broadcasted in Europe and North America in 12 languages.

#BBC productions made a documentary which was broadcasted on star plus on a program hosted by Mr Amitabh Bacchan.

#The People’s magazine from USA, Money Life magazine of Sucheta Dalal, Times of India have published articles on University of Life.

Now we are 7 residents of University of Life residing at Dhamapur. Our first student from local orphanage Mohammad Shaikh is now managing trustee of Syamantak. Omkar who is from a hotelier family from Malvan has now become an environmental lawyer . He is also managing trustee of Syamantak. Youth from various countries, cities and villages of India visits our commune for sustainable living at Dhamapur as Interns to gain the new perspective of sustainable life through rural economy and harmony – Simple living and honest thinking