The Story of Phoolban Schools: A Movement That Withered traces the establishment, growth, and decline of the Phoolban schools under the Muslim Education Society, Mysore. Conceived as the city's first sustained urban experiment demonstrating the critical role of pre-primary education in reducing school dropouts—particularly among children of first-generation learners-the model was empirically validated over a period of twenty years.
Written by Prof. Jalees Ahmed Khan Tareen, the surviving founder of the movement, the book combines first-hand institutional history with reflective and analytical insight. It documents how early educational intervention strengthened school readiness and retention, and how the subsequent neglect of this proven approach—due to managerial ignorance, shifting values, and a disconnect from the founding philosophy—led to the gradual erosion of a successful educational movement. The book offers enduring lessons for educators, researchers, and policymakers committed to sustainable and values-based educational reform.
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Prof. Jalees Tareen (Padma Shri)
Prof. Jalees Ahmed Khan Tareen (Padma Shri) is an accomplished scientist, institution builder, an artist, and a education reformer. A former Vice-Chancellor of multiple universities of India, he has devoted his life to popularising education and empowering women through learning and economic independence. His pioneering initiatives and
steadfast leadership have transformed institutions and inspired communities across India. Prof.Tareen has authored his memoir "Fire Under the Snowflake: The Return of Kashmir University", his autobiography "Rise of a Barefoot Boy".
