Four Decades of Engineering Excellence in North Maharashtra

In 1969, late Shri Annasaheb P. K. Patil established the Poojya Sane Guruji Vidya Prasarak Mandal — “A pioneer in the field of socio-economic and educational transformation of North-West Maharashtra through the co-operative movement.” Its objective is to impart to the younger generation education embodying literary, scientific, legal, social, technical, commercial and industrial training, with a view to the overall welfare of the country.

The Mandal’s campus spreads over more than 200 acres and accommodates several institutes, including the Arts, Science & Commerce College (A-grade NAAC accredited), Polytechnic, College of Pharmacy, College of Education, College of Agriculture, an Industrial Training Centre, an Institute of Management, an Advanced Study Centre for English & Indian Languages, and the Adivasi Culture & Language Research Institute.

Born on 9th October 1923 into a poor peasant family in Lonkheda, Shahada, Shri P. K. Anna Patil graduated with a B.Com. from M. S. University, Baroda, and obtained an LL.B. from the University of Poona. During his school and college days he actively took part in India’s freedom movement and was among the brave young men at Nandurbar in the 1942 Quit India Movement.

Drawn into the co-operative movement under the guidance of Dr. Dhananjay Rao Gadgil, he served as Chairman of the Dhulia District Central Co-operative Bank for eleven years and established a co-operative sugar factory, spinning mills, a paper plant, a particle-board unit, a distillery and a starch factory. His work in co-operation and education earned him the titles ‘Sahakar Maharshi’ and ‘Shikshan Maharshi’. He represented Shahada three times in the State Legislature and passed away on 18th September 2014.

Pandurang Sadashiv Sane, better known as ‘Sane Guruji’, was an emotional and sensitive freedom fighter whose literature, aimed at educating children, continues to inspire the young and the old. An eminent Marathi writer, a student of philosophy and a lover of students, he was imprisoned several times during the freedom struggle and, after independence, started the weekly Sadhana as a vehicle of socio-cultural emancipation.

His best-known work, Shyamchi Aai (Shyam’s Mother), was filmed in Marathi. His major novels include Astik, God Shevat and a Marathi translation of Tolstoy’s What is Art?. His contribution to children’s literature remains unparalleled, and an Indian postage stamp has been issued in his honour.