19 Facts About Anil Bordia

Anil Bordia was an Indian educationist, social activist and former civil servant, widely respected for his contributions to the Indian education sector.

Anil Bordia was a civil servant who was passionate about taking education to the masses and making every Indian literate.

Anil Bordia was born on 5 May 1934 in the Indian city of Indore, in Madhya Pradesh.

Anil Bordia had his schooling at Bharataiya Vidya Bhavan in Udaipur and graduated from the M B College, Udaipur.

Anil Bordia secured his post graduate degree from the St Stephen's College, and, later, passed the Indian Administrative Service examination in 1957.

Anil Bordia was married to Otima, a former IAS officer, and the couple had a daughter, Maitreyi and a son, Shreyas.

Anil Bordia joined Indian Administrative Service in 1957 for a civil services career which spanned 35 years, until retired from the service, as the Union Education Secretary in 1992.

Anil Bordia was behind the Mahila Samakhya project, a women's education project which has participation from various women's movements.

Anil Bordia guided the program until 1999 and was stated to be a highly successful initiative.

In 2001, Anil Bordia launched another movement, Doosra Dashak, which was aimed at the education and development of the youth.

Anil Bordia headed a committee, Right To Education committee, which submitted a detailed report with suggestions to synchronise the norms and strategies of the RTE with that of the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, a government program mandated to achieve Universalization of Elementary Education, so that operational synergies are achieved.

Anil Bordia was vocal about women's role in the society and girls' participation in primary education.

Anil Bordia is remembered for his contributions in rejuvenating the education sector of the country and played a part in its policy formations, especially the National Education Policy of 1986.

Anil Bordia was an active participant in the universalisation of education in Rajasthan and Bihar.

Anil Bordia worked for the empowerment of marginalised communities and women which he tried to achieve through society participation and community resources.

Anil Bordia is acknowledged as an expert in micro planning and positive decision making.

Anil Bordia's name featured in an administrative litigation, when J C Jetli, a senior IAS officer, approached the Central Administrative Tribunal, against Bordia's appointment as a Government Secretary, superseding Jetli's claims.

Anil Bordia had to meet with opposition during the Lok Jumbish program, when the rural people wanted full-fledged schools, rather than the system Bordia suggested, which finally led to the untimely cessation of the program in the state of Rajasthan.

Anil Bordia was awarded Padma Bhushan, in 2010, along with his teacher at the St Stephen's College, Professor Mohammed Amin, which was celebrated by the college as a felicitation to the awardees.