Pune Vidyarthi Griha

A socialist and an engineer by profession, Shri. Diwan Bahadur K. R. Godbole had published an article in the year 1907. The content of the note of an article was very much towards the untoward expenditure made from the contributions received through the Grants and Aids respectively. The content of an article had made tremendous impact on the society. Having inspired by the thought, some of the noted personalities came together to start with, and did take an initiative to offer education with an accommodation and boarding to the five needy and poor students at the five different places at Pune. This work was observed at first by Late Aannasaheb Gadre, who was a noted personality.

An education only can provide, the stability, and one could gain name and fame in the society, an education is a wealth and becomes a treasure to the ones, who do not have money, and to the ones, who have a clever brain and ambitions in mind. “Anath Vidyarthi Griha” came into existence in the year 1909 on May 12th, having the same motto and with the aspiration to educate the poor and destitute needy children. There were many of the students, who used to work hard and some of them would get the charitable offerings from the society, but there was not a home or shelter for them and even a school where they would get an education. Eventually, this task was shouldered idealistically by “Pune Vidyarthi Griha”.

Considering the increase in the volume of the students, in year 1912, the arrangement was made to stay for the students at Nagnath Par in the palatial house owned by Shri. Balukaka Kanitkar. It was a time that the school at Yeotmal was closed down by the Government, and so Shri Balukaka Kanitkar had become a part of the Institute. Shri. Balukaka Kanitkar had a wish that this institute should gain its name and fame not only giving education and shelter to the needy and destitute children, but also to hold a fame for offering “National Education”, i. e. My Country, My Religion, My Language”, which indulges into the fields such as Physical, Intellectual and Professional Education. In the year 1916-17, Shri. Balukaka Kanitkar had shifted one of its branches at Chinchwad. Shri Babasaheb Patwardhan had donated his palatial house of Kasaba Peth to the Institute, and Shri Dadasaheb Ketkar had opened the second branch in a row.

It is a great pleasure unfolding the truth and its progress of 98 years of existence. After having founded “Pune Vidyarthi Girha on the 12th May 1909, and having managed to arrange the poor and destitutes for their stay and boarding, the Institute could manage to do everything for all the scattered students at Sadashiv Peth in the year 1920, under one roof.

Now, at present in Pune Division, the Institute has its own premises at Sadashiv Peth, a premises at Vidyanagari and at other different places from where its work is being carried forward. In Nashik Division, the Institute has its own premises at Panchwati, a branch at Talegaon-Anjaneri, Dt. Nashik, a Mhasarul branch, Tal. & Dt. Nashik, and at Mumbai Division, the Institute has its branches at Ghatkopar and Nerul, from where the work of motivation for upbringing the society through the education and other activities are being done with utmost strength with practicality.