Gokhale Education Society , a premier educational
organisation in the country established a secondary school
at Bordi, a remote Village in Palghar district, in 1920. The
objective was to spread secondary education in rural areas.
Principal T.A. Kulkarni, ‘Chairman of Gokhale Education
Society took lead in establishing this School. Smt.
Dhanbai Pestonji Hakimji, a great philanthropist from
Gholwad gave donation in the memory of her mother Smt.
Soonabai Pestonji Hakimji, and so the school was named
as Soonabai Pestonji Hakimji High School. The campus of
this institution is situated on the sea coast and has beautiful
natural surroundings. It has an ideal atmosphere for
imparting education. It reminds of ‘Gurukul’ of our ancient
culture.
The institution was very fortunate to get leadership
of Acharya Bhise, who was a great visionary in rural
education. He emphasised on value education along with
academic curriculum to be taught in the class-room. He
also introduced vocational education in the form of spinning,
weaving and agriculture in the school curriculum to
make education relevant to the needs of rural people. The
institution had a band of devoted teachers like Chitre
Guruji and Atmarampant Save who considered service to
their students as a sacred duty. The teachers of this school
took active part in India’s freedom struggle and underwent
Imprisonment. They inspired their students to participate
in the freedom struggle. The School at Bordi was therefore recognised as a 'National School' during pre-independence
period.
The institution has inculcated a spirit of idealism
amongst its students to serve their motherland. The institution
feels proud of its past-students who rendered valuable
service in various fields and made contribution in
nation building. The past students of the institution have
built an auditorium during Silver Jubilee celebration of the
School in 1945 and named it as ‘Gurudakshina Mandir ’ as
a mark of respect to their teachers. This auditorium revives
the cherished memories of the past students who
pay visit to the school and also reminds them the teaching
and preaching of their great teachers. The past students
of the school have also established “The S.P.H. High
School Past Pupils’ Association” to keep permanent contact
with school where they received education.
A residential hostel for boys is constructed for past
80 years for students from Maharashtra & Gujarat States.
Late Shri Chitre Guruji had devoted his life for the service
of students living in Sharadashram. The students who
stayed in Sharadashram feel very fortunate that they received
education under the saintly teacher like Acharya
Bhise & Chitre Guruji. They regularly come to Bordi to pay
their homage to their great teachers.
With a view to cater to the needs of technical education
Godrej Technical Institute was established in 1962.
At the advent of new pattern of education in Maharashtra.
Pirojsha Godrej Junior College of Science was started in
1975. For both these institutions Godrej Boce & Company, Mumbai gave donation. In continuation with the science
education at +2 level N.B. Mehta (Valwada) Science College
was opened in the year 1994. It was a happy coincidence
that the institute celebrated its ‘Amrit Mahotsava’
(75th Anniversary) in the same year. The college is named
after Shri. N.B. Mehta who was a teacher in S.P.H. High
School. His son Shri Nitinbhai gave donation to this college.
The college has excellent facilities of Laboratories,
Library & Class-rooms. The Science College will not only
cater the needs of higher education of students but create
scientific temper in rural masses which is the need of
the day. Besides conventional courses. It imparts scientific
knowledge through subject such as Biotechnology, Information
Technology and Computer Science.
The Society has also established Lalita Jaykumar
Pathare Institute of Information Technology in 1999 with
excellent modern facilities in computer education & Information
Technology. Smt. Lalita Pathare is a past student
of S.P.H. High School. Her husband Shri. Jaykumar
Pathare who is a well known industrialist gave donation
to establish this institution. There are excellent facilities
of computer laboratories, library, seminar halls etc. The
institute is a part of Science College and offers degrees in
Computer Science and Information Technology of University
of Mumbai.
In the year 1993-94, incidentally the centenary
year of Acharya Bhise & Atmarampant Save, the Society
decided to Start English Medium Section by opening a
division of Jr. KG. and the same was named as Prin.
Atmarampant Save K.G. School. Every year a division of
higher Standard was opened by natural growth and the
government of Maharashtra gave Sanction for opening a
division of Std. VIII from the academic year 2002-2003.
At present we have a full fledged English Medium
High School right upto Std. X. The Secondary Section has
been named as Pujya Chitre Guruji English Medium High
School in the memory of Late Krishnarao Mahadeo Chitre
alias Chitre Guruji.
We have been able to maintain a good academic
standard of the School where students from all strata of
the society get admission. The Computer education is introduced
along with regular academic curriculum for Std.
I to Std. IV. A modern computer Laboratory is also set in
the School where even the students of lower Classes get
opportunity to play computer games. Students learn
through modern technology. All classes are aquipped with
40 inches LED, Wifi and Tata sky connection. More emphasis
is given on sport activities so that sport-talent can be tapped
at a young age.
We aspire to develop this School into an ideal institution
where students will learn our rich and varied
heritage and culture. Our aim is to create not only scholars
but also responsible citizens.
With the support of the chairman & Secretary of
Gokhale Education Society and co-operation from citizens
of Bordi, Gholwad and surrounding villages we are confident
that this School will soon develop in to an ideal English
Medium School in the rural area.