History - Background
The story of Utkal Gaurav International School (UGIS) is deeply rooted in the humble soil of Berunapadi, a small village in the Keonjhar district of Odisha. Known for its simplicity, spirituality, and cultural richness, Berunapadi has always valued education as a means of empowerment.
The journey began when Dr. Pradeep Kumar Sethi, a native of Berunapadi and an internationally renowned doctor, felt a strong desire to uplift his village through education. With the blessings of his late father Shri Sanatan Sethi, he initiated a small coaching centre in his residence to teach rural children Spoken English, Computer Skills, and moral values — completely free of cost. What began as a handful of students soon grew into a movement to educate and empower the underprivileged children.
To formalize this effort, Utkal Gaurav Foundation was established in 2016, extending free education to poor and meritorious students. In 2017, the Utkal Gaurav Centre of Excellency was inaugurated by Shri Arup Patnaik, IPS (Retd.), followed by scholarship and infrastructure support from eminent personalities such as Shri Dilip Tirkey and Shri Sulehwinder Singh.
With growing community support and inspiration from the teachings of Paramhansa Yogananda and Utkal Gaurav Madhusudan Das, the Centre of Excellency evolved into a full-fledged school — Utkal Gaurav International School (UGIS) — in April 2021. The school blends Eastern spirituality with Western efficiency, offering holistic education that nurtures body, mind, and soul. The new building of UGIS was inaugurated on 4th March, 2023 by the Hon’ble Former Chief Minister of Odisha, Shri Naveen Patnaik, marking a significant milestone in its journey.
Looking ahead, Utkal Gaurav International School is on its way to obtaining affiliation up to the Senior Secondary level, expanding its vision of transforming rural education and shaping young minds into confident, compassionate, and capable global citizens.
The journey began when Dr. Pradeep Kumar Sethi, a native of Berunapadi and an internationally renowned doctor, felt a strong desire to uplift his village through education. With the blessings of his late father Shri Sanatan Sethi, he initiated a small coaching centre in his residence to teach rural children Spoken English, Computer Skills, and moral values — completely free of cost. What began as a handful of students soon grew into a movement to educate and empower the underprivileged children.
To formalize this effort, Utkal Gaurav Foundation was established in 2016, extending free education to poor and meritorious students. In 2017, the Utkal Gaurav Centre of Excellency was inaugurated by Shri Arup Patnaik, IPS (Retd.), followed by scholarship and infrastructure support from eminent personalities such as Shri Dilip Tirkey and Shri Sulehwinder Singh.
With growing community support and inspiration from the teachings of Paramhansa Yogananda and Utkal Gaurav Madhusudan Das, the Centre of Excellency evolved into a full-fledged school — Utkal Gaurav International School (UGIS) — in April 2021. The school blends Eastern spirituality with Western efficiency, offering holistic education that nurtures body, mind, and soul. The new building of UGIS was inaugurated on 4th March, 2023 by the Hon’ble Former Chief Minister of Odisha, Shri Naveen Patnaik, marking a significant milestone in its journey.
Looking ahead, Utkal Gaurav International School is on its way to obtaining affiliation up to the Senior Secondary level, expanding its vision of transforming rural education and shaping young minds into confident, compassionate, and capable global citizens.