SHIVAJI EDUCATION SOCIETY'S
Shivaji Education Society
Baad, Karwar.
Beginning of 20th century witnessed the great awareness, and awakening among the illiterate masses in rural India for education of their children and the semi urban area of Baad, Nandangadda, Sunkeri, Makheri, Kathinkone, Shirwad Kadwad villages of Karwar Taluka; was not exception to it.
The first ever High School in Karwar i.e. Govt. High School was started in 1864. There after almost nearly half a century the Hindu School was established. The New English School started in 1925.
Students of Baad, Kodibag, Kathinkon, Nandangadda Makheri etc. had to traverse a long distance to attend to the secondary Schools existing then. Moreover admissions to schools were restrictive due to the inadequate accommodation and increasing number of students and the students who were coming from most unfavorable family situation and down trodden communities were denied admissions under the guise of selective admissions.
Under these circumstances to avoid the inconveniences to such of the students, the Konkan Maratha Education Society was formed on 9-11-1944 with determination to establish a new school to cater the needs of the students coming from mostly socially and economically backward communities.
A plot of 30 gunthas was purchased for Rs.120/- The education department gave recognition immediately. The construction of the School building with five halls was taken up early in January 1945.
At that time an unrecognized school known as ‘Popular English School was run by Shri V. V.Bhujale, B.Sc. B.T. Shri Bhujale agreed to join the new school along with staff and students. The society’s school Building was inaugurated by Capt. V. Nanjappa, I.C.S the then collector of North Canara on 16-10-1945. He was very much pleased to see the active attempts made by the society and as an encouragement he was kind enough to sanction a sum of Rs.500/- from his discretionary grants to the school and wished that school shall become a full pledged school in near future. The wish came true in 1951.
The strength of the school grew from year to year and in 1966 it was bifurcated into two schools i.e. the Shivaji High School and the Shivaji Girls High School, Baad, Karwar.
The year 1970-71 was the Silver Jubilee year of the society. The society celebrated it in a most significant way by entering in to the field of Higher Education. In that year, Arts College was started.
The then existing Arts and Science College Karwar, had to restrict admissions to overcome the difficulty of over crowdedness and inadequate accommodation. The establishment of Arts College by Shivaji Education Society relieved the tension of parents for admission of their children to college.
Secondly, its establishment along with the establishment of Kanara Welfare Trust’s Divekar College of Commerce created healthy competitive atmosphere in the circle of higher education in Karwar.
The college became a full-pledged Arts college in 1972-73. The Karnataka University permitted the society to add commerce section to the existing Arts College and from 1981-82 year it would become a full-pledged Arts and commerce College.
Another land mark of the Silver Jubilee year was that the original name of the society i.e
.” Konkan Maratha Education Society” was changed in to “The Shivaji Education Society” and the membership of the society was thrown open to all the patrons of Education irrespective of caste and creed.
The college of Education was started in 1972. Karwar town being the district place is also quite suitable and convenient for a professional college, not only because Karwar Taluka has 32 High Schools, but also because Karwar town itself has a dozen High Schools. The College caters to the needs of not only of the young and aspirant graduates of this educationally backward area to become the full pledged teachers but also provide opportunities to the students coming from neighboring districts like Belgaum, Dharwad, Bijapur & Gulburga. The College has attracted even the students from neighboring states like Goa, Kerala & Maharastra.
The society also made a headway in the rural area by establishing a High School in Hankon a village in Karwar Taluka in 1970.
Thus the society is not an end in itself but is a means to an end, the end, being the spread of Education. The society has ambitious plans. It has already applied for affiliation of the Law College. The Karnataka University has strongly recommended our case and the same is under the active consideration of the Government.
It also proposes to start a Pharmacy College in near future. If Goodwill’s and if munificent funds are forth coming from the generous public the time is not far off to start an Engineering and a Medical College during this decade in the campus. It may not be too much for us to aspire that the day when a University is earmarked for each district, our campus may become the seat of University, for being an institution in the district Head Quarters with multiple educational institutions.
No doubt institutions of the magnitude like that of our society is the result of collective efforts of many a people who directly or indirectly have toiled for the welfare of the institution. We would be ungrateful if we don’t remember these persons who served the institution with dedication, sincerity and hard work, without any expectation.
The Ex-Chairman late Shri. Datta Subba Naik form 1945 to 1950, late Shri. Shankar Babi Savant from 1950 to 1965 Shri Purushottam Ghartu Naikd frorm 1965-1968 are all to be remembered with gratitude for leading the society during its most formative and critical period.
The others are Shri. Ganesh Soiru Savant, Shri. Rama Satu Savant, Shri. Bhikaro Krishna Naik and Shri. Purushottam Pandurang Savant who had also rendered yeoman service in the initial stages of the society and thereafter both in securing funds, land and construction of the buildings.
A special mention has to be made about the services of shri.V.B. Desai, Retd.Addt. D.P.I and the founder Principal of Arts College and College of Education who nurtured the institutions in the initial stages of development.
Shri. G. S.Naik the then member of the Governing Council also strived hard to bring up the Arts College in its initial stage.
During the financial crisis of the said institution Shri. D.G.Savant, was deputed to Bombay for collection of funds. He with the help of Shriyuts S.D. Savant and M.P.Gaonkar collected a sum of Rs. 20,000/- at Bombay.
Shri.V.V.Bhujale, who served as the Head Master of Shivaji High School from its take over to 1972 when he retired contributed his might for development of the institution. The services of Dr. Sadanand Naik, Ex-Principal of Arts College, Shri. P.K.Katti, Shri. M.A.Gangappa, Ex-Principal of College of Education Shri.K.M.Naik, Ex-Head Master of Shivaji High School is all remembered with gratitude.
The Society owes its gratitude to the Karwar Municipality which has been assisting a finically the institution from time to time. It donated Rs. 20,000/- during the inception of the Arts College.
The Society also expresses its heart-felt thanks to the Karwar Urban Co-operative Bank Ltd., Karwar which donated a good sum to the society.
The society remembers with gratitude the innumerable donors and philanthropists for their munificent contributions for the development of the society.
The management’s contribution for the yeomen service of the society is note-worthy. It has been working unitedly for the welfare of the Institutions. It is due to its untiring and dedicated services that all the institutions have made a big stride in the educational sphere in this district. The tasks before it are of magnitude. The play-ground has to be improved, independent buildings for library and laboratory have to be constructed, a hostel for the students and staff quarters are immediate needs. With the blessings of the local deity LORD MAHADEV and with the help of generous philanthropic people, it is hoped that the noble cause would be realized.
S.D.Gaonkar
President
Shivaji Education Society
Baad, Karwar