This saint is saviour of orphans

Chaparda (Junagadh): Lakhan Keshawala, a 17-year-old class 12 (commerce) student, is studying in Brahmanand Vidhya Dham managed by Bhagvatinandji Education Trust (BET) run by Muktanand Bapu at Chaparda village in Junagadh district.
Lakhan, a resident of Adityana village near Porbandar, has been studying here in residential school since he was in class seven free of cost.Lakhan's parents committed suicide when he was just six-year-old.
"My parents were agricultural labourers and I had no future in education but someone told me about Muktanand Bapu, who adopts orphans and provide all educations. I approached Muktanand Bapu and now I have no worry about my future," says Lakhan. Lakhan wants to join army.
Muktandand Bapu, a revered saint, runs many educational institutions at Chaparda from class 1 to post-graduation studies which include BBA, BCA, MCA, MBA, BEd and other courses where 2,000 children are studying.
Out of 2,000 children, 700 students are orphans. Muktanand Bapu has adopted these 700 children and all facilities are provided to them free. The number of such kids receiving free education is increasing every year.
Satish Rabdiya, a resident of Junagadh, is studying in third semester of MBA here in Bhrahmanand Institute of Management College.
"My father died of cancer 11 years ago. He ran provisional store in Junagadh. After he passed away, situation turned difficult for us as my mother is house wife. I wanted to study MBA but there was no money. But Muktanand Bapu helped me to shape career as I came here to pursue MBA in finance. I am given all facilities free. I want to join banking sector," says Satish Rabdiya.
"I would have discontinued my study, if Bapu had not helped me in achieving my dreams," says teary eyed Rabdiya.
Moreover, the Bapu's trust owns huge swaths of agricultural land and students who study here are served nutritional and organic foods which are grown here.
"We provide education free to orphans in all areas of education as they it the most. Orphan children should not feel that there is no one to look after them after their parents are no more," Muktanand Bapu told TOI.
Students, who want to study in areas which are not available at Chaparda, they are encouraged to study choice of subject in whichever city they want and expenses are borne by Bapu.
"Five years ago, I wanted to study BBA in Junagadh, as it was not available in Chaparda. So, I commuted from here to Junagadh and all expenses were borne by Bapu," says Malde Modhwadia, a resident of Modhwada village near Porbandar.
Interestingly, Malde's father Nagarjun died 12 years ago due to an illness and his mother was living alone in Modhwada village.
"Bapu asked me to call my mother to stay with me so that I could concentrate on my studies. She worked at the institute for which she was paid. We were given a separate room to stay together," says Malde, who is now a lecturer at MBA Collage here in Chaparda.
"I can't imagine my life without Muktanand Bapu's support and care," he says.
"Now, time has come to invest in humans (education and health need of poor) instead of constructing temples'' Muktanand Bapu says his principle thoughts behind running educational and health institute.