Lighting the Torch of Transformation in Rural Education
Swarnendu Chattopadhyay
Co-Founder & Director
The Heritage School, Bithika Pally, Rampurhat
Lighting the Torch of Transformation in Rural Education
Swarnendu Chattopadhyay
Co-Founder & Director
The Heritage School, Bithika Pally, Rampurhat
Education is no longer confined to chalkboards and classrooms—it is an ever-evolving process, shaped by the waves of technology, changing mindsets, and generational shifts. As Gen Z and Gen Alpha walk into schools with curious, tech-savvy minds, the responsibility of educators has transformed—from instructors to innovators. Leading this change from the grassroots is Swarnendu Chattopadhyay, the visionary CoFounder & Director of The Heritage School, nestled in the humble town of Rampurhat. Once an IT professional teaching across borders, Swarnendu turned to education inspired by a deeper purpose—and the legacy of his father, a revered headmaster. With no major resources but immense resolve, he built an institution that imparts knowledge and nurtures imagination and integrity.
Education today is not just about preparing children for exams—it’s about preparing them for life. To do that, schools must evolve as living ecosystems that nurture curiosity, courage, and character.
In an exclusive interview with TradeFlock, Swarnendu reflects on his remarkable journey —from overcoming rural barriers in 2006 to implementing NEP 2020, and pioneering projectbased learning, experience-driven learning, and game-based learning methods that are reimagining the future of schooling in India.
What inspired your transition from IT to the education sector, and how has the journey been?
I still remember the hum of my first blackand-white monitor—it wasn’t just a screen; it was the beginning of everything. Back then, I was pursuing accounts at Calcutta University, but IT was the future, and I dove right in. I taught Microsoft Office 97/Unix, travelled for assignments across Bangladesh and Nepal, and nearly found myself in China. But amid all that movement, a thought kept returning to me: It’s always better to start something of your own than to remain a jobseeker. That idea changed everything.My father, a respected headmaster and my greatest influence, helped me channel that thought into action. I took the challenge, stepped into education, not just to build a business, but to build futures. Today, this institution is my way of giving back to society, nurturing young minds who will lead tomorrow.
What are your key milestones as Founder & Director of The Heritage School?
While I believe the biggest milestone is yet to come, we’ve had many proud moments. Two of our students have joined ISRO as junior scientists, and one is currently in Sriharikota under the ISRO Scholarship Program, having taken part in a satellite launch. Others have gone on to AIIMS, NITs, and top institutions. For me, these stories matter most. It’s not buildings or infrastructure that define a school—it’s the success of its students that tells the real story.
How is technology used in your classrooms to improve learning?
We’ve adopted smart classes, but what’s truly impactful is our use of “Class Sathi” software. It lets every student respond to questions anonymously, directly from their device, without raising their hands. This removes fear of judgment and encourages participation from even the quietest students and creates a more inclusive classroom. In our school, technology isn’t just about screens—it’s helping students to join a Virtual School Exchange Program with ‘Talk with Cookies’ where they are sharing their thoughts with the students of other states and countries.
What major challenges did you face while starting the school in Rampurhat in 2006?
Rampurhat wasn’t even semi-urban back then— it was a small rural town. Starting a school here in 2006 came with every possible challenge. We faced countless challenges, from a lack of infrastructure and recognition to the absence of strong finances or prior experience. But I believe, “A person needs inner fire more than any external FIRE—(Finance, Infrastructure, Recognition & Experience) to build an institution.” Truly, I had none of these external factors, but the fire within and the guiding light of my father, a lifelong educator. What kept me going was a belief that education isn’t just about teaching—it’s about transformation. Obstacles are everywhere, but turning them into opportunities is what education teaches us. We have limitations but in our school students grow more with less.
What unique approaches have you adopted to personalise and future-proof education at your institution?
Education isn’t static—it evolves with the world, and so must we. I’ve seen it shift—from the IT boom to mobile tech, and now AI—and this is still just the beginning. At The Heritage School, we’ve embraced this change with four unique approaches: Project-Based Learning for teamwork, Query-Based Learning where students lead 80% of classroom interaction, Experience-Based Learning through hands-on labs with partners like Jigyashu, and Game-Based Learning to build imagination— because imagination is the mother of innovation. We even introduced the ‘Nachiketa Award’ to celebrate students who ask the most meaningful questions. And through initiatives like ‘School Cinema’, we ensure life skills and values are never left behind. For us, it’s about nurturing minds ready for a future we can’t yet imagine.
A person needs inner fire more than any external FIRE (Finance, Infrastructure, Recognition & Experience) to build an institution.
What non-academic initiatives does your school focus on?
Two things I deeply value for students are nature and sports. Fortunately, our school sits in the middle of a paddy field, with only greenery for over two kilometres. This setting naturally refreshes young minds. Within the campus, we have ponds and lakes, where students observe water, birds, and the environment up close. At Heritage, we treat this as part of education. We haven’t just introduced nature—we’ve inherited it and consciously made it a part of our everyday learning.
