Bharat Ratna Maharishi Dhondo Keshav Karve
Bharat Ratna Maharshi Dhonde Keshav Karve (18th April 1858 – 9th Nov 1962) was a Humanist, an evangel of emancipation both for Hindu widows and for womanhood at large. A pioneering figure moved by the magnificent instinct that upheld the progress of womanhood as the purest and the surest test of the progress of the civilization, the establishment of Shreemati Nathibai Damodar Thackersey Indian Women’s University was the culmination of an odyssey. The founding father advocated women’s education as instrumental in women’s empowerment by enabling them to be economically independent and to be able to think for themselves. S.N.D.T Women’s University was started in 1916 by the eminent social reformer Maharshi Professor D. K. Karve with the aim of educating girls for self-reliance.
Sir Vithaldas Thackersey
The efforts of Maharshi Karve got a boost with the support of an industrialist,philanthropist and a visionary Sir Vithaldas Thackersey who generously donated Rs. 25 lacs in the memory of his mother Shrimati Nathibai Damodar Thackersey to strengthen the foundation laid by Maharishi Karve. Sir Vithaldas Thackersey died on August 12th 1922.
Lady Premlila Thackersey
She was the wife of educationist and philanthropist Sir Vithaldas Thackersey. When her husband died in 1925, she was 31 years old, yet continued his work, both in the field of education and philanthropy and dedicated herself to the cause of women’s education. She remained the chairperson of the Kasturba Gandhi National Memorial Trust (1956-1972), and also became the first Vice-Chancellor of SNDT Women’s University in Mumbai. She was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second highest civilian honour given by Government of India in 1975, for her contribution in the field of education. The incomplete work of Sir VithaldasThackersey was carried on by his wife Lady Premlila Thackersey who donated generously to establish the degree college in Home Science. Thus, Sir VithaldasThackersey College of Home Science was started in the year 1959. The College fosters optimum growth and development in girls thus fulfilling the vision of our founder, Sir Vithaldas Thackersey.
