SNDT Women's University Mumbai
The SNDT Women's University which was founded by Bharat Ratna Maharishi Dhondo Keshav Karve, though facing a lot of hurdles in his mission for advancement of Indian Women through education, Maharshi Karve had set up in an ashram in 1896 ,where he started a programme for schooling as he believed that it is through education that they could be made self reliant and independent.
As the ashram school grew with its own pace into a well accepted institution where girls from educated families came to study, this success encouraged Maharshi Karve for establishing a university for women. In 1916 Indian Womens’ university was launched with five students.
Sir Vithaldas Thackersey an eminent industrialist of Mumbai, committed to the cause of women’s education gave a donation of 15 lakhs in memory of his mother.
The university was named SHRIMATI NATHIBAI DAMODAR THACKERSEY (SNDT)WOMENS UNIVERSITY in 1936 a campus was established in Mumbai and the head office of the university was shifted to Mumbai. The women’s University set out to create an atmosphere where girl’s can blossom into confident, self reliant, responsible individuals who can be a source of strength to their families and the society.
The motto of the university is ' Sanskrita Stree Parashakti ' (An enlightened women is a source of Infinite strength) guided by this philosophy the university has developed many special features which make it distinct and unique. It caters exclusively to women and offers programme relevant to them offering instructions in four mediums i.e. English, Hindi, Gujarati and Marathi.
In 1951 the university acquired statutory recognition from the Government of Maharashtra. The Recognition came along with the rare privilege of jurisdiction across the country.
Today the university has three campuses-Pune,Churchgate and Juhu in Mumbai. In addition to 37 University departments and 13 constituent colleges/institutions located on three campuses, it has various affiliated colleges in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh. The Programmes are offered through 12 faculties viz Home Science, Law, Technology Management, Library & Information Science and Social Work.
In the year 1916, Dr. Karve established SNDT University with a vision to establish an educational institution where girls could blossom into confident, self-reliant, responsible individuals, who could later be a source of strength to their families and community- "Sannskrita Stri Parashakti" ( "An Enlightened Woman" is a source of infinite strength).
Marwadi Sammelan started B.M.Ruia Mahila Mahavidyalaya in 1958 at Grant Road, taking a step further in the empowerment of women by providing graduate courses such as B.A., B.Com and postgraduate courses M.Com & M.A. .Marwadi Sammelan is one of the oldest philanthropic, social and charitable NGO set up in Mumbai by Rajasthanis in 1914, with the primary object of spreading education amongst girls. The other objectives include services in the segment of Health, Women Empowerment and Cultural promotion.
Presently, the trust has set up various institutions such as Rajasthani Mahila Mandal, Rajasthani Vidhyarthi Gruha, Rajkiya Madhyamik Vidyalay, Sitaram Poddar Balika Vidyalay, B.M. Ruia Girls’ College, Savitridevi Hariram Agarwal International School in order to provide class apart educational facilities for the upliftment of women in the society. Also, the trust has instituted various funds such as Shri Vishwanath Shivbhagwan Chamadiya Education Aid Fund, Shri Jaganath Gigaraj Khemka Education Aid Fund, Book Bank Scheme to cater to the educational needs of the society.
Taking into consideration the growing need for computer education and media studies, Sitaram Deora Institute of Management Studies ,affiliated to Smt. Nathibai Damodar Thackersey Women’s University, was established in the year 2012 by Marwadi Sammelan, which is in the forefront propagating and imparting girls’ education.
