Shri Rakesh Kapoor
1951 – 2021 · Founder, Modern School
He built a school around a single, radical idea for its time: that a child learns best not under fear, but in the presence of affection — and that the deepest education is to know thyself.
In 1979, Shri Rakesh Kapoor founded Modern School in Mahanagar, Lucknow, drawing on the teachings of the philosopher J. Krishnamurti. Where most schools of the era measured children by marks and obedience, he set a different compass — the motto ‘Know Thyself’ — and built the school around self-knowledge, mindfulness, emotional intelligence and wisdom.
An accomplished scholar, he pursued advanced studies at Teachers College, Columbia University, with a foundation in English Literature and Education. He envisioned a place where every child could reach their full potential without being made afraid — and then spent four decades making it real.
Under his leadership Modern became a quiet pioneer. It was the first school in India to earn ISO certification, and an early adopter of the American Society for Quality’s Koalaty Kid programme — bringing the discipline of quality systems into the daily life of a school long before it was fashionable.
A prolific author, his books — including Total Presence of Mind and The Power of ‘Know Thyself’ — carried the same conviction that ran through his school: that self-awareness is the ground on which a good life is built.
When the mind gets disintegrated between what is and what should be, unhappiness is caused. We must love ourselves and not allow the mind to disintegrate.
Shri Rakesh Kapoor passed away in 2021, but the culture he established endures — in classrooms where children are encouraged to question without fear, in the mindfulness woven through the school day, and in every Modernite who learned here that excellence and kindness are not opposites.
Our Values
Five values, held since 1979.
Affectionate kindness
Warmth and positive intent in every interaction — between teachers, students, parents and peers. Kindness here is systemic, not occasional.
Joyful curiosity
Learning designed around inquiry and the intrinsic joy of discovery, not fear-based performance.
Respect for individuality
Every child is unique in temperament, pace and aspiration. The school honours diverse strengths and makes room for authentic self-expression.
Mindful growth
Development that is intellectual, emotional, social and ethical — balanced, reflective, and aligned with long-term well-being.
Emotional intelligence
Self-awareness, empathy and responsible decision-making, cultivated deliberately so that students build healthy relationships and resilient futures.