G. P. Chopra | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1920 (1920) India |
| Died | 23 September 2011(2011-09-23) (aged 90–91) New Delhi |
| Occupation | Educationist |
| Awards | Padma Bhushan Padma Shri Delhi Ratna Qimpro Platinum Award FUREC Distinguished Fellow |
| Website | Official web site of DAV Network |
Gyan Prakash Chopra (1920-2011) was an Indian educationist, credited with the establishment of several educational institutions in India.[1] A recipient of the Padma Shri in 1999,[2] he was honored again by theGovernment of India, in 2010, with thePadma Bhushan, the third highest civilian award, for his services to the field of education.[1][3]
G. P. Chopra was born in 1920, in the pre-independence India. After graduating in English Literature, he joinedMurray College,Sialkot, in the present dayPakistan, as a lecturer. After theIndian independence andpartition, he moved to New Delhi and joinedHans Raj College ofDelhi University and taught at the college till his retirement from teaching service.[1]
Gyan Prakash Chopra was the President of DAV network of institutions, a 123-year-old non governmental organization focused on education. During his period, he was successful in establishing over several DAV educational institutions across the country, including the rural and tribal areas ofHimachal Pradesh,Jharkhand andOrissa.[4]
DAV network of institutions is an education-focused group, started in 1886, which runs over 700 educational institutions in various parts of the country, with a student strength of about one million. The group witnessed growth during Chopra's reign as the President of the Managing Committee.[5][6] The first of the DAV schools was started in 1885, followed by the establishment of the DAV Trust and Management Society, a year later. The movement, founded byDayanand Saraswati, at various points of time, involved many notable personalities such asMahatma Hans Raj, Mehr Chand, Lala Balraj, Justice Mehar Chand Mahajan, Dr. G. L. Dutta, Lala Suraj Bhan, Prof Ved Vyas, Darbari Lal, T. R. Tuli, G. P. Chopra and Punam Suri.[6]
