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AKOLA CITY: A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE...
Akola is an ancient and enchanting city named after its
Rajput ruler, Maharaja Akolsingh. The ruins of ASADGARH fort,
situated on the western bank of holy river MORNA, are
reminiscent of his mortal being and remind us that Maharaja
Akolsingh was not a fiction but a historical reality. The famous
RAJ-RAJESHWAR temple, an ancient temple of Lord Shiva, is
located just near the ASADGARH fort in the old city area, where
devotees from all over the country come to pay their obeisance.
It is said that the Maharani of Akolsingh was an ardent devotee
of Lord Shiva and used to visit the temple in the wee hours
daily to worship the Shiva-Linga before starting her daily
chores, without the knowledge of the Maharaja. One day the
Maharaja became suspicious of her behavior and followed her to
the temple. The Maharani noticed him and feeling distressed and
humiliated, she prayed to Lord Shiva to accept her in His fold.
Thereupon, it is said that the Shiv-Linga spirit into two parts
and the Maharani entered in its fold. The repentant Maharaja,
who was hiding behind a temple pillar, rushed to rescue her but
it was too late. The Shiv-Linga joined engulfing the Maharani.
The Maharaja could get hold of only a piece of her saree. Ascaron
the Shiva-Linga, where it parted, is still a reminder of this
episode.
At Shegaon, 40 kms. away from Akola, is the famous place
of Sant Gajanan Maharaj, who has a big following. The Gajanan
Maharaj Temple at Shegaon is one of the most visited pilgrimage
centers in the State of Maharashtra just like Shirdi. Thus Akola
rightly claims to be a historical city with a religious
background.
What constitutes Akola District was originally a part of
the Nizam's dominion assigned in 1853 to the East India Company
in liquidation of the large debt due on account of arrears of
pay on the Hyderabad continent and as a security for future
payment of that force. At that time, Berar was divided into two
districts, south and north. In 1857, Berar was reconstituted
into two districts, West Berar with headquarters at Akola, and
East Berar headquarters at Amravati. In 1903, the treaties of
assignment were superseded by an agreement under which the Nizam
leased Berar to the Government of India for on annual rent of Rs. 25 Lakh in perpetuity. The administration of Berar was
transferred from Hyderabad to the then Chief Commissioner of
Central Provinces. In 1956, with the reorganization of the
states, the district was transferred from Madhya Pradesh to the
then Bombay State and in 1960, it became a part of the State of
Maharashtra. (Source: Maharashtra State Gazetteers, 1977, p.1).
The geographical location of Akola is 19N32 74E03. It is
situated in the western part of Vidarbha region, known for its
rich cotton soil and scorching summer. It is a railway junction
of Mumbai-Kolkata railway line on the Central Railway and on
Secunderabad-Jaipur railway line on the South Central Railway.
The National Highway No. 6, Mumbai-Kolkata route, passes through
the city. Akola is strategically situated in the heart of
Central India and is well known for its flourishing trade and
commerce.
EMERGENCE OF BERAR GENERAL EDUCATION
SOCIETY
With the passage of time, Akola grew in size and
population because of its trade, business and commerce. In 1935,
the pre-independence period, one visionary Shri G D. alias
Bhaurao Joshi felt the need of starting an educational
institution at Akola. Those were the days when the winds of
changes were blowing across the country and emphasis was being
laid on education, especially women's education. Inspired by the
thoughts and philosophy of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, Lokmanya Tilak
and Agarkar, Baburao Joshi started the Berar Genral Eduation
society on the auspicious day of Makar Sankranti, the 14th of
January 1935. Modern School was the first establishment set up
under the aegis of the Society. This School was later renamed N.
M. Choudhari School. At that time, facilities for higher
education were lacking in Akola. Baburao Joshi was a teacher,
having a meagre income. He had no funds to start a college. But
his sprit was not dampened, and with great determination he
raised a loan of Rs. 10,000 by mortgaging his personal property.
This is a case of supreme sacrifice made by an individual fired
with a sincere cause and desire. In 1937, Berar Arts College was
started under the aegis of Berar General Education Society. In
1938, help and support came from Smt. Sitabai Shah Jain, a
religious and pious lady, who very generously offered a cash
donation of Rs. 10,000 and about four acres of land along with a
building in the present Civil Lines area. In 1938, Berar Arts
College was renamed as Sitabai Arts College, after its noble
donor. Baburao Joshi became its founder principal. Baburao Joshi
was a great Sanskrit scholar and had a mastery over many other
subjects. Six other persons inspired by selfless service joined
Baburao Joshi and together they worked hard for the growth and
development of Sitabai Arts College. They are popularly known as
the 'Saptarshis'. Under the principal ship of Baburao Joshi, the
college flourished and soon earned a legendary status in the
Nagpur University area. Sitabai Arts College has become a brand
name and has produced many great scholars and men of eminence
serving the nation. It is a glorious fact on record that more
than once, the college students have bagged ten out often
positions in the merit list.
The founding fathers of the Society had a vision to
follow knowledge like "the sinking star beyond the utmost bound
of human thought." A manifestation of this deeper striving was
seen when the Commerce, Science and Law faculties that were
added to the college during the period 1956 to 1958. Thus,
Sitabai Arts College became a Multi-Faculty College. Prior to
this, the student community was required to go to far away
places for prosecuting their higher studies. The faculties
developed so rapidly that it became necessary to bifurcate them
into independent entities. In this sense, Sitabai Arts College
may be said to be the mother institution as all its faculties
have branched out into separate colleges. At present, Sitabai
Arts College is a pure arts faculty college with a number of P.G
courses like M. A. In English Literature, Marathi Literature,
Hindi Literature, Economics, Sociology, Political Science and
History. At. U.G. Level, a variety of optional subjects are
offered. Among them Urdu, Persian, Music, Sanskrit and Home
Economics deserve a special mention. Under Amaravati University
Jurisdiction, this is the only college where so many subject
options are made available to the students.
The educational activities of Berar General Education
Society have spread to other parts of the district also. In
1961, the Society opened Kisanlal Nathmal Goenka College at
Karanja to cater to the needs of rural population. It was Seth
Kisanlal Nathmalji Goenka, a noble soul, who donated land for
the college. The college is a multi-faculty college with arts
and commerce faculties and has a student strength of more than
1,000 at present.
In Sitabai Arts College, the faculty of commerce was
started in the year 1957 with 65 students on roll. In the year
1964, Seth Radhakisanji Toshniwal, a landlord, moneylender and
philanthropist of Akola, donated a sum of Rs. 25,000 and a piece
of land measuring about 2 acres for starting a separate commerce
college. Thus, Smt. Laxmibai Radhakisan Toshniwal College of
Commerce came into being. At present, the college boasts to be
the largest single faculty commerce college under the
jurisdiction of Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University with student
strength of about 4,000. The college runs various courses
leading to diplomas and degreesofB.com., M.com., M.C.M., M.Phil.,
M.I.R.P.M., D.B.M., D.M.M., D.F.M., and D.Tax. It is a
recognized research center. In 1968, again Seth Radhakisanji
Toshniwal came forward and donated a sumptuous amount of money
for starting a separate science college. Thus, in the year 1968,
Shri Radhakisan Laxminarayan Toshniwal College of Science was
set up. This is an exclusively science college, having U.G.
courses apart from the junior college. It is a well reputed
college, famous for producing merit students. At present, About
1,500 students are taking education in the college. It is also a
university recognized research center for prosecuting doctoral
studies. AII these colleges have been duly assessed and
accredited by NAAC, Banglaore. The process of reaccreditation in
all the colleges is in progress. The law faculty was added to
Sitabai Arts College in the year 1956. In the year 2006, this
faculty was separated with the establishment of an independent
Law college. The college proposes to start P.G course in law
leading to LL.M. degree from the academic session 2009-2010. The
Law college has produced many eminent personalities who are
serving the bench and the Bar.
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COMPOSITION OF THE SOCIETY...
The Berar General Education Society is a pioneering and
premier body engaged in the propagation oft is a non-minority
society. The members occupy respectable positions in the
society. Many of them have achieved remarkable success in their
respective profession or vocation. Shri Jamanlalji Goenka, a
past president, was an influential political leader of great
stature. He was a member of Parliament. He was also a Minister
of State in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. Another past
president, Shri Vallabhdasji Mohta was a prominent advocate and
later rose to become the Chief Justice of Orissa High Court.
Shri Uttamchand Motilal Agrawal, the past secretary, is
remembered for his selfless devotion and dedication. He was a
visionary and his unstinted efforts led to remarkable growth of
educational institutions conducted by the society. The present
president of the society is Dr. R.B. Heda, a leading dental
surgeon of Akola. The secretary is Shri Motisingji Mohta, a
leading advocate of Akola Bar. Under their able leadership, the
management has undertaken many progressive steps and proposes to
start new institutions and courses taking into account the
present needs of the society. In the Platinum Jubilee year, the
plans are to start an engineering college and a management
institute to provide quality education to the student population
of the region .
The logo of the Society embodies a quotation from
the Gita, which means, “The
brave doesn't rest until the goal is achieved".
The management is aware that the ultimate aim of education is
always fluid and changing. It is endeavoring to keep alive the
rich tradition laid down by their predecessors and marching
ahead with undiminished zeal and enthusiasm because the final
goal is yet to be achieved.
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THE SAPTARSHIS
OF SOCIETY...
Shri. Baburao Joshi |
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