The Gazetteers Department

The Vidyapeeth Society, Kolhapur, was founded in 1953 for (i) imparting education by modern methods of teaching, (ii) conducting the Vidyapeeth at Kolhapur, and (iii) starting associate institutes of the Vidyapeeth in different places. The society consists of the president, one or more vice-presidents and members who together form the governing council which controls the affairs of the society. The society has at present (1958) 44 members. The activities of the society extend over Kolhapur city, Khadaklat and Gaganbavda. It runs five primary schools (including one for girls) and one balmandir. It also runs an ashram called Tapowan where agriculture is carried on on about 18 acres of land. The value of the society's immovable property as on 31st March 1956 was Rs. 2,16,879. The total income of the society in 1955-56 was Rs. 1,40,046 and expenditure Rs. 1,39,693.

New Education Society.

The New Education Society was established at Kolhapur in 1921. The object of the Society is to bring within easy reach of the masses education, cultural and technical, in all its aspects by starting primary and secondary schools and colleges in different centres. The management of the society's affairs is vested in the governing council composed of 17 members elected by the society's donors from amongst themselves and the society's life members.

The society runs four high schools including one for girls, one middle school, three primary schools, one pre-primary school and the C. P. Ed. Institute (an Institute of Physical Education). Of these, two high schools, two primary schools, one pre-primary school and the C P. Ed. Institute are at Kolhapur; one high school and one primary school are at Islampur in South Satara district; and one high school is at Jaisingpur in Kolhapur district. There is a middle school at Nandni in Shirol taluka.

The income and expenditure of the society during 1955-56 was Rs. 2,71,287 and Rs. 2,70,224 respectively; the value of its immovable property was Rs. 3,06,000.

Shri Shahu Shikshan Prasarak Mandal.

This organisation was started in 1942 with the object of spreading education amongst the masses and inculcating a taste for literature by starting libraries and by arranging lectures. The society runs one high school and two primary schools, including one for girls. All the three institutions are situated in Kolhapur city. The society does not have school buildings of its own.

The Azad Shikshan Mandal.

This organisation was started in 1946 with the object of conducting primary schools. It has a working committee consisting of a president, a vice-president, a secretary and manager, and five members. The Mandal runs one primary school and one Montessory school at Kolhapur. The income of the Mandal was Rs. 14,983 in 1956-57. The Mandal does not own any school building.

Shri Mouni Vidyapeeth.

Shri Mouni Vidyapeeth, Gargoti, was established in 1952. The main object before it is rural reconstruction and rural education. Its activities are mainly concentrated in Bhudargad taluka. It is held that the tasks of rural reconstruction and rural education are inseparable and, therefore, the Vidyapeeth has before it the motto "education through reconstruction and reconstruction through education". Since reconstruction of life of a region is the responsibility of the people living in that region, the Vidyapeeth has restricted its role to creating a social will in the minds of the rural people to think in terms of community needs and welfare, discovering local talent, training local social workers and organising local leadership.

The members of the Vidyapeeth are of three kinds viz., (i) institutions, (ii) individuals and (iii) honorary members. The institution members are again of two types; permanent and others. Individual members are of three kinds: fellows, friends and patrons.

The affairs of the Vidyapeeth are managed by three committees viz., the governing council, the executive committee and the advisory board of experts. The governing council consists of the president, two representatives of each of the three permanent institution members, such number of representatives of non-permanent but affiliated institution admitted to membership as may be decided by the executive committee, all individual members, all honorary members and the Director of the Vidyapeeth who is the secretary of the governing council. The president is to convene meetings of the governing council as and when necessary. Within three months of the close of every financial year, an annual general meeting of the governing council has to be convened to consider the annual report and audited statement of accounts for the preceding year, to elect members of the executive committee for the ensuing year, to appoint auditors and to consider the budget and programme for the ensuing year.

The executive committee consists of the President of the Vidyapeeth, the kulapati of the Vidyapeeth, two representatives each of the three permanent member institutions, one representative elected by the institutions admitted to membership, one fellow, one friend and one patron elected respectively by all fellows, by all friends and honorary members, and by all patrons respectively and the Director of the Vidyapeeth (who is also the secretary of the executive committee). The executive committee is responsible for the administration of the Vidyapeeth in accordance with the rules and regulations and the directions issued by the governing council.

The advisory board of experts is appointed for a period of three years at a time by the executive committee to advise it on all matters connected with the Vidyapeeth. The chairman of the board is designated as the kulpati of the Vidyapeeth.

The Vidyapeeth ran the following institutions in 1957: - at Gargoti-one pre-primary school, one basic primary school, one high school, one primary training college, one graduates' basic training centre, and the institute of rural education and research; at Patgaon-one central primary school; at Kadgaon-one central primary school. The Vidyapeeth also ran 40 voluntary primary schools in villages round about Gargoti.

It carries on social reconstruction work in the rural areas of Bhudargad taluka with the co-operation of the villagers and assistance of the staff and students of its institutions. Since 1957-58, Government of India have sanctioned the opening of a Social Education Organisers' Training Centre at Gargoti under the auspices of the Vidyapeeth.

The value of the Vidyapeeth's assets as on 31st March 1957 was Rs. 9,39,787. During 1956-57 the income and expenditure of the Vidyapeeth was Rs. 4,46,600 and Rs. 3,54,600 respectively.

Council of Legal Education.

The Council of Legal Education, Kolhapur, runs the Shahaji Law College at Kolhapur. Till the merger of the Kolhapur State with the Bombay State the college was looked after by the Government of Kolhapur. After the merger, however, the Council took over its management. In instructs the students for LL.B. and LL.M. examinations of Poona University. In 1958, there were seven members on the teaching staff of the college. The assets of the Council consist of a play-ground, building, library and permanent fund. Its annual income is about Rs. 20,000. In 1957-58 its expenditure amounted to Rs. 19,115.

Shikshan Prasarak Mandal.

The Shikshan Prasarak Mandal, Kolhapur, was established in 1950 to encourage education by opening educational institutions wherever possible. The Mandal consists of patrons, fellows, founder members, life members, members of local bodies, head masters of secondary schools run by the Mandal, retired life members and ordinary members. These along with the principals of colleges run by the Mandal constitute the General Body which elects the president, the vice-president and the secretary. The secretary works for the General Body, Governing Body and the Council.

The Governing Body supervises the work of the Council and issues orders about the recommendations of the Council. The Government Body consists of president, vice-president, secretary, all founder members all patrons, and elected representatives of fellows, members and life members in a certain proportion. In addition, one representative each from amongst the head-masters and teachers of the secondary schools of the Mandal, primary teachers of the schools of the Mandal, local bodies and all the principals of the colleges run by the Mandal are also its members.

The Council looks after all matters connected with the day-to-day work. It is elected by the General Body at the end of every three years and consists of elected representatives of patrons (one), founder members (two), headmasters of the secondary schools of the Mandal (one), teachers in secondary schools of the Mandal (one), life members (one) and fellows (one). The Council elects its chairman who can hold that office for three years.

The Shikshan Prasarak Mandal conducts the Gopal Krishna Gokhale College in Kolhapur city. It was originally started in 1950 at Kagal, the birth place of Gokhale after whom it is named. It was subsequently shifted to Kolhapur. It is affiliated to the University of Poona and imparts instruction for B.A. (Special) in Economics, Marathi and English, and B.A. (General) in English, Economics, Political Science, History, Marathi, Philosophy, Sanskrit and Ardhamagadhi. In 1958, there were 700 students and 23 members on the teaching staff. The assets of the College consist of buildings, equipment, play ground and library. Its income and expenditure in 1957-58 was Rs. 1,87,596 and Rs. 1,83,939 respectively.

The Prince Shivaji Education Society.

The Prince Shivaji Education Society, Kolhapur, was established in 1943 with a view to training up good citizens, giving impetus to education of women and to start institutions under its control for that purpose. The sphere of activity of the Society is restricted to Maharashtra. It was registered under the Society's Act in 1943 and again under Public Trusts Act in 1952.

The membership of the Society is open to all above eighteen years of age. The ordinary members have to pay Rs. 12 annually. Degree holders, and in special cases others, are admitted as life members provided that they agree to work in its educational institutions on its terms and conditions at least for fifteen years. There are seven categories of benefactors the donation payable by whom ranges from Re. 1 to Rs. 25,000. President, Vice-President, Secretary and Manager are the officers of the society. Its affairs are managed by the Governing Council which is appointed by the President every year and consists of the President, not more than five Vice-Presidents, two Secretaries, one manager, seven members from amongst ordinary members and one member from among life members. With a view to maintain stability in its working it has been laid down in the constitution that the Founder-President will continue to be its President for 20 years from the adoption of the constitution. He is empowered to appoint, dismiss or promote employees of the society, etc., though he is responsible to the governing council for such actions.

The general body consists of ordinary members and life members. It approves the actions of the Governing Council, appoints auditors and legal advisors. There were 25 members on the general body in 1958.

In the beginning, the Society conducted two high schools and three primary schools in the city of Kolhapur. In 1945 it started the Mouni Vidya Mandir at Gargoti in Bhudargad taluka. This institution rose to prominence and was later on transformed into an independent institution "The Shri Mouni Vidyapeeth" a (rural university) by name. An account of this institution appears elsewhere in this section. Another land mark in the achievements of the Society is the establishment of Tara Rani Vidyapeeth, Kolhapur, which is well-known for its specialisation in imparting education to women. This institution has also emerged of late as a separate entity and its detailed account is given separately.

At present the Society runs two primary schools in Kolhapur city namely Nagojirao Patankar Vidyalaya and Padmaraje (Mofat) Vidyalaya. The assets of the society (buildings, furniture, laboratory, library, motor, etc.) were worth Rs. 4,45,152 on 31st March 1957. Its annual income was " Rs. 26,950 as against an annual expenditure of Rs. 33,820.

Tara Rani Vidyapeeth.

Tara Rani Vidyapeeth, Kolhapur, came into existence 0n the Republic Day of 1953. The founders of this organization had before them the ideal of establishing an institution for the education of girls, particularly those belonging to the non-advanced classes. The Vidyapeeth is named after Chatrapati Maharani Tara Bai, the great woman who founded the State of Kolhapur. Though the Vidyapeeth itself was inaugurated in 1953, its beginnings were made much earlier, namely in 1945, when a free middle school for girls, Tara Rani Vidya Mandir, was started in Kolhapur. In the first year of its existence it taught standards I to III and had on its register 39 girls only. It is out of this humble beginning that the Tara Rani Vidyapeeth of today has emerged.

The Vidyapeeth today has five institutions working under its aegis, viz., (1) Usha Raje (Multi-purpose) High School; (2) Primary Teachers Training College for Women; (3) a Primary school; (4) a pre-primary school (bal bhavan); (5) a women's welfare centre. It also conducts Tara Rani Mahila Vasatigriha (Hostel).

In order to provide up-to-date facilities for women's education the independent organization of the Tara Rani Vidyapeeth Trust was established. It is entrusted with executive work and consisted of 12 members in 1958. The general body gives general directions regarding running of the Vidyapeeth. There were 37 members on the general body. Among the assets of the Vidyapeeth were buildings, furniture, laboratory, library etc. which were valued at Rs. 4,54,817. During 1956-57 the trust received Rs. 1,31,932 and spent Rs. 82,398.

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