ʃˈiːʃuː mˈændɪɹ, wˌɪtʃ wʌz lˈeɪɾɚ ɹᵻkɹˈɪsənd æz vˈɪdɪə nˈaɪktən pˈɑːpjʊlɚli nˈoʊn æz bˈɜːlə pˈʌblɪk skˈuːl wʌz fˈaʊndᵻd baɪ ðə bˈɜːlə ˌɛdʒuːkˈeɪʃənəl tɹˈʌst ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈoːɹɾi fˈoːɹ ˌʌndɚ ðə ɡˈaɪdəns ʌv dˈɑːktɚ. mɚɹˈiːə mˌɔntɪsˈɔːɹi.
Shishu Mandir, which was later rechristened as Vidya Niketan (popularly known as Birla Public School) was founded by the Birla Educational Trust in 1944 under the guidance of Dr. Maria Montessori.