In the city of Pune, which is well known for its cultural
and educational heritage, Vidya Mahamandal is an educational
institute, impating quality education to about 2000 stuents
from varied backgrounds every year for the last 40 years.
Vidya Mahamandal Sanstha was established on 1st December
1961 by a small group of enthusiastic youths, who had
very different ideas and views about giving education
with an objective of an all-round development of the child
as a good human deing.
The dream was timely supported by late Shri. G. L. Apte,
an eminent lawyer and writer who donated a hugh piece
of land on Apte road in the memory of his father late
shri. Laxmanrao Apte, who was the president of the Pune
municipality and was a famous lawyer of his time. Our
president Shri. V. G. Apte is the grandson of late Laxmanrao
Apte.
Today we witness a total of 7 educational offshoots of
the Vidya Mahamandal Society standing on a campus big
enough to house them all. But the beginning of this giant
institution was small and humble. The Society made its
forty into the educational field by establishing the “Vidya
Mahamandal Prashala” in the year 1962. initially,
the classes of this school were held in the tiny garage
belonging to the Apte Family, while the school building
was built. Late Balasaheb Bhole and the Late Madhavrao
Apte, well-wishers of the Vidya Mahamandal society, gave
priceless help by providing financial support for the
building, which was completed in the year 1967.
In the year 1968, with the initiative of
(late) Mrs. Sharayu Vasant Apte, the Pre-Primary School
- Sharada Balak Vihar was established. Later Mrs. Manik
Apte (her sister-in-law) also took on some of the responsibility
of running this intiative by working as a teacher in the
school. For as many as 35 years, both of them took immense
efforts and pioneered child education in such areas as
Pulachi Wadi, Shirole Vasahat, Patil Vasti and Police
Line, where education itself was a novelty.
The year of 1972 proved to be a historic year for the
society. The erstwhile editor of “Sakal”
a renowned daily newspaper Late Nanasaheb Parulekar
visited Vidya Mahamandal and he unveiled the new name
of the school, which was henceforth called as
“Laxmanrao Apte Prashala”. He commended
and paid tribute to the eefforts and contribution of
the Vigya Mahamandal Society to the educational field
and urged the members to spread their effords and contribute
in different ways to society.
The Vidya Mahamandal Society endeavors to educate not
only school students, but also the civil society various
activities like tree plantation, Dedication Centers,
providing food and shelter to pilgrims and so on. Thus
through such activities, the Society is constantly striving
to realize the vision of the founder members: that of
an educated and culturally aware civil society.
The
undisputed dedication and excellent team work of the
executive members has made it possible for the institute
to serve the society through the following branches.
• Sharda Balak Vihar (Pre-primary)
• Sharda Vidya Mandir (Primary)
• Laxmanrao Apte Prashala (High School)
• Laxmanrao Apte Junior College (Higher secondary)
• Vidya Mahamandal’s Vocational Training
and Research Centre for Deaf and Dump Students.
Looking at the growing needs,
the institute has now raised two floors of their existing
building and one more five-storied building. With this
there is a very good facility for library, equipped
laboratories and computer room.
QUALITY EDUCATION:
VIDYA MAHAMANDAL has not only educated hundreds of
people and spread the message of importance of education,
but has also given priority to providing quality education
to its students. The Junior College ranks at the topmost
position in Maharashtra. For the past 10 years, the
HSC result has been 100%, with 8-10 students in the
merit list.
| Sr. no |
Year |
No of
Students in Merit List |
| 1 |
1987 |
3 |
| 2 |
1988 |
1 |
| 3 |
1989 |
2 |
| 4 |
1993 |
2 |
| 5 |
1994 |
1 |
| 6 |
1995 |
2 |
| 7 |
1996 |
9 |
| 8 |
1997 |
6 |
| 9 |
1998 |
13 |
| 10 |
1999 |
9 |
| 11 |
2000 |
15 |
| 12 |
2001 |
14 |
| 13 |
2002 |
8 |
| 14 |
2003 |
14 |
| 15 |
2004 |
12 |
| 16 |
2005 |
14 |
| 17 |
2006 |
5 |
Till date, 16 students from VIDYA MAHAMANDAL have received
the RASHTRIYA PRANJYA Scholarship, 22 students the 4th
and 7th standard scholarship, and 6 students the international
Olympiad.
Not only have the studnetds proved their mettle in
the academic sphere, but have also displayed their talent
in various creative fields such as through television,
Films and Music. As many as 5 students from VIDYA MAHAMANDAL
have received the prestigious Sa Re Ga Ma award. The
renowned recipient of the Hind Kesari Award Yogesh Dodake
is also an ex-student of the institute.
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