UNI
Mumbai, Jul 4: Britain-based Dr Arjun Gaur inspired by late Princess Diana, has built her statue on a ten-acre manmade island in a school set in over 100 acres in Karjat, Mumbai.
The statue located in the midst of the school was inaugurated on Diana's birthday.
"Princess Diana has been my inspiration from her humble beginnings as a school teacher she rose to become the first Lady of England and her pleasant smile and face and her ever smiling persona has been a great motivating factor," confesses Dr Gaur who three years ago founded The Cambridge International Academy set in the Sahyadri valley next to a river amid picturesque mountains.
With state-of-the art facilities, the Cambridge International school boasts of international standards with spacious classrooms, qualified teachers, purpose-built hostels, well-equipped labs, the latest computer room with internet, a well equipped library, clinic, cafetaria, swimming pool, gymnasium, playgrounds and even an amusement park and a discotheque to boot.
If that is not enough there is a visual auditorium that houses over 1000 students as well. The Cambridge International school currently houses over 125 students, including 20 international scholars, studying international curriculum with IGCSE affiliation from the Cambridge University, UK.
Adds Dr Gaur, "It has been a steady and strong growth process for us. The Academy is today a home away from home for our students, The next step I felt after founding the school was to pay tribute to The Late Lady Diana and hence a ten-acre manmade lake island with her statue was created.'' He further says, "Humanitarian work played a crucial role in the Princess' life, both at home and abroad. Her overseas missions to Angola, Bosnia, Pakistan and India struck a chord with me." The marble statue of Princess Diana is handcrafted by traditional artisans in Jaipur painstakingly over a period of one year. "I want to leave no stone unturned in my tribute to Princess Diana," says Dr Gaur.
With the inauguration on Princess Diana's birth anniversary, Dr. Gaur is happy that his dream of immortalizing Lady Diana in India is concretised. ''We had also extended our heartfelt invitation to the Princes Harry and William but they were unable to attend due to military commitments. However we have their best wishes,'' says Dr Gaur.