About Khed Taluka Shikshan Prasarak Mandal
Hutatma Rajguru Mahavidyalaya, run by Khed Taluka Shikshan Prasarak Mandal, is a living monument of Hutatma Shivram Hari Rajguru. Khed Taluka Shikshan Prasarak Mandal was founded to initiate the process of enlightenment through education in the most undeveloped villages of Khed Taluka. The institution aims at enabling students to avail themselves of the facilities of higher education. Before the establishment of Khed Taluka Shikshan Prasarak Mandal in 1974, there were only primary and secondary schools in the hilly and tribal regions of this Taluka, but there was no institution to fulfill the needs of higher and technical education.
With the advent of the new movement led by Mahatma Jyotirao Phule and other social reformers who strove for bringing about a social revolution based on the principles of liberty, equality of opportunities, social justice and welfare of the downtrodden through the process of education, a new sense of awareness stirred the socio-political life of Maharashtra. A spirit of renaissance was experienced in cities like Pune. However, the overwhelming majority of people living in the remote parts of Khed Taluka remained away from this spirit. Being aware of this glaring contrast, the founder members of Khed Taluka Shikshan Prasarak Mandal decided to run an institution to promote higher education. The founder president, Late Sahebraoji Buttepatil, Late Sahebraoji Satkar, Adv.Ram Kandge, and the members of the institution put in ceaseless efforts and established Khed Taluka Shikshan Prasarak Mandal to accelerate the education progress in this region.
Khed Taluka is historically and culturally significant. Bhimashankar, Alandi and Nimgaon are the holy places in the Taluka. Alandi is the town sanctified by the presence of Saint Dnyaneshwar who enriched the “Bhagwad (Warkari) Sampradaya”, a religious cult that believes in the participation of the commonest of common people in religious and spiritual activities. The common people in our region asserted this spirit of participation by extending their cooperation in growth and development of this institution.
Along with this religious background, these villages are known for their historical significance also. Several of these villages can recall the events, which underscore great deeds of Chhatrapati Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha state, and the Peshwas in later years. This spirit of resurgent nationalism is reflected in the noble deed of Hutatma Shivram Hari Rajguru.
Hutatma Shivram Hari Rajguru was born at Rajgurunagar, the town formerly known as Khed, on 24th August 1908. He went to Benares to learn Sanskrit where he came across a revolutionary group led by Shahid Bhagat Singh. Both of them, along with Shahid Sukhdev laid down their lives on the altar of Independence. This selfless sacrifice has always been the source of inspiration for all of us.
In spite of such a rich heritage, most of the villages in Khed Taluka had been deprived of modern educational facilities. The lack of educational facilities prevented them from making economic progress. Agriculture was the main occupation. However, there were only a few schemes of irrigation. This resulted in poverty and inequality. Shri. Sahebraoji Buttepatil perceived this stark reality and decided to enhance the process of higher education. Science and Commerce College established in 1977, was the first step in this direction. This was one of the rare colleges where Science wing was started right from the beginning.
Shri. Sahebraoji Buttepatil, Adv.Ram Kandge and Shri.Sahebraoji Satkar realized the need of the participation of the common man of Khed Taluka in the process of education. Therefore, instead of depending on huge amounts donated by rich people, they urged common people to become members of the institution by contributing an amount of Rs.351/- as membership fees. The farmers and employees responded positively. The primary teachers along with milk and onion producers extended their financial support. The poor farmers from Padalwadi, Shri. S. G. Sandbhor, Shri. K. M. Sandbhor, Shri.S. U. Sandbhor, Shri. V. H. Sandbhor, Shri. C. M. Sandbhor, Shri. L. L. Sandbhor and Shri. M. M. Sandbhor donated their land without expecting any monetary compensation.
The Government of Maharashtra appreciated these intentions and efforts. The then Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Honourable Shri.Shankarrao Chavan accepted to grant the permission to the college. The next Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Honorable Shri. Vasantdada Patil, granted the permission to the college in an exceptional condition, though it was the policy of the State Government not to give permission to any new college in the state on the grantable basis. The Governmnet released grants in due course of time. As a result, there stands a beautiful building of our college on the banks of the river Bhima. The building was inaugurated by the then Chief Minister of Maharashtra Honorable Shri.Vasantdada Patil on 18th March 1984.
Many rich donors would have given us a substantial amount expecting this college to be named after them or their kinsmen. However, the founder members desired to commemorate the sacrifice of Hutatma Rajguru. So they decided to name the college after him. The then chief minister Honorable Barrister Antule appreciated this view and released the grant of Rs. 300000/- to the college. The Science and Commerce College became Hutatma Rajguru Mahavidyalaya. The then Chief Minister Honorable Barrister Babasaheb Bhosale was present on this occasion.
The institution also runs a Secondary School at Kuda. Kuda is one of the remotest villages of this Taluka. The school Shri.Shingeshwar Highschool, has been providing good educational opportunities since its establishment in June 1994. The institute has also started Sahebraoji Buttepatil Mahavidyalaya in 2018 to meet growing demands of the opportunities of higher education from the students of this taluka. In these educational enterprises, the basic aims and objectives of the institute are achieved.
