Rakesh Popli

Rakesh Kumar Popli
Rakesh Popli
Born	1952
Died	15 September 2007
Nationality	Indian
Occupation	Nuclear physicist
Known for	Establishing the first "Ekal Vidyalayas"

Rakesh Kumar Popli (1952 - 15 September 2007) was an Indian nuclear physicist who was known for establishing the first "Ekal Vidyalayas", or one-teacher schools, in remote regions of India.^[1]

Early years

Rakesh Popli was born in India in 1952. He studied at Purdue University, USA from 1974 to 1981, obtaining a Ph D. in Nuclear Physics. Returning to India, he became an Assistant Professor in Nuclear Physics at the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, and was then appointed a professor in Applied Physics at Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra (BIT Mesra), in Ranchi, Jharkhand from 1984 to 1988.^[1]

Ekal vidyalayas

In 1986, following in the footsteps of the early followers of Swami Vivekananda, some young educationists began to work with tribal people who lived in the dense forests of Jharkhand.^[2] Sri Bhao Rao Devras had outlined the concept of One Teacher Schools in 1986.^[3] Rakesh Popli and his wife Rama Popli, an expert in child education, refined the concept. He wrote the syllabus for the pioneering schools that were established among the tribes of Gumla about 125 kilometres (78 mi) away from BIT Mesra.^[1] Sponsored by the India Development Service, a charity, in July/August 1986 Rakesh Popli visited about 20 cities in the USA where he described the work of his group in the tribal areas.^[4]

Rakesh Popli died from blood cancer on September 15, 2007 after a protracted illness.^[1] His books included A Stroll Through Space Time (in Hindi).^[5]

Partial bibliography

• Rakesh Kumar Popli (1976). UV degradation of polymers. University of Louisville. p. 146. 
• Rakesh K. Popli, David K. Roylance (1980). Molecular Fraction Behavior in Oriented Polymers. Defense Technical Information Center. p. 136. 
• Lilavati Krishnan, B. N. Patnaik, N. K. Sharma, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (1989). Aspects of human communication. Mittal Publications. ISBN 8170991854.  (contributor)
• Rakesh Kumar Popli (2003). A stroll through space-time: a leisurely discourse on Einstein's relativity theory. Vigyan Prasar. p. 91. ISBN 8174800859. 
• Rakesh Popli. Parmanu Se Sitaro Tak. Vigyan Prasar. ISBN 8174800387. 

References