Somaiya Vidyavihar

Last updated
Somaiya Vidyavihar
Formation1942;82 years ago (1942)
Founder Karamshi Jethabhai Somaiya
Type Educational trust
Headquarters Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Location
  • Mumbai, India
Region served
Flag of India.svg  India
FieldsEducation
President
Samir Somaiya
Website Official website

Somaiya Vidyavihar is an Indian educational trust that operates a network of schools, colleges, and institutions across Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh. It was founded by industrialist, educationist, and philanthropist Karamshi Jethabhai Somaiya, a Padma Bhushan recipient, in 1942. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

History

The statue of founder Karamshi Jethabhai Somaiya at the Somaiya Vidyavihar campus KaramshiJethabhaiSomaiya.jpg
The statue of founder Karamshi Jethabhai Somaiya at the Somaiya Vidyavihar campus

Somaiya Vidyavihar was established by Karamshi Jethabhai Somaiya in 1942, starting with a primary school in Kopargaon, Maharashtra. [1] It was formally registered as an education trust on September 7, 1959. [2] [4] After founding sugar factories in Sakharwadi and Laxmiwadi, Maharashtra, Karamshi Somaiya established the Somaiya Vidyamandir Schools in those locations and the K. J. Somaiya College of Arts and Sciences in 1959 in Mumbai. [5]

The foundation stone for the Arts and Science College building at Vidyavihar was laid by the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Yashwantrao Chavan, on March 18, 1960, and Amrutlal Yagnik, a noted scholar, assumed the role of the first principal of KJ Somaiya College of Arts & Science. [2]

The K. J. Somaiya Yoga Academy was established and inaugurated by Swami Tadrupanand in April 1993, followed by the K. J. Somaiya Centre of Buddhist Studies, inaugurated by the 14th Dalai Lama in December 1993. In 1995, Somaiya Vidyavihar along with the Somaiya Trust established the K. J. Somaiya Medical College and its affiliated K. J. Somaiya Medical College & Research Centre in Sion, Mumbai, expanding its educational portfolio to 22 institutes in 1995. [2] As of 2024, Somaiya Vidyavihar comprises of 35 academic institutions. [6]

In 2019, Somaiya Vidyavihar put forward a proposal to the Government of Maharashtra for the establishment of a university. Following the government's approval, Somaiya Vidyavihar University was founded, marking the first self-financed private university in Mumbai. The university is governed jointly by Somaiya Vidyavihar, the K. J. Somaiya Trust, and The Somaiya Trust. [7] [8]

In January 2024, the student satellite team at K. J. Somaiya Institute of Technology launched their amateur radio satellite, 'BeliefSat-0', from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. This launch was a collaboration with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) as part of their PSLV-C58 mission. [9] [10]

Campus

Their institutions offer programs in a wide range of disciplines, including arts, sciences, management, engineering, medicine, humanities, philosophy, and social sciences. [6] The institution's main campus is located in Mumbai, spread across two locations, a 65-acre complex in Vidyavihar and a 35-acre adjoining complex in Sion. In addition to its main campus, Somaiya Vidyavihar also offers autonomous [11] postgraduate courses, vocational training programs, and high schools. [6]

Institutions

Institutions under Somaiya Vidyavihar Education Trust cater to various disciplines of education, with the following colleges under its fold.

InstitutionCourseYear FoundedAccreditationAffiliationLocation
K J Somaiya College of Arts and CommerceDegree1959 NAAC University of Mumbai, Autonomous Vidyavihar, Mumbai
K J Somaiya PolytechnicEngineering1963 MSBTE Autonomous Vidyavihar, Mumbai
SMT Sakarbai K Somaiya Junior College of EducationEducation1963 AICTE Autonomous Vidyavihar, Mumbai
S K Somaiya Vinay Mandir Junior CollegeHigher Education1965 MSBTE Vidyavihar, Mumbai
K J Somaiya College of Science and CommerceDegree1972 NAAC University of Mumbai Vidyavihar, Mumbai
K J Somaiya Junior College of Arts and CommerceHigher Education1976 MSBTE Vidyavihar, Mumbai
K J Somaiya Junior College of Science and CommerceHigher Education1976 NAAC University of Mumbai, Autonomous Vidyavihar, Mumbai
K J Somaiya Private Industrial Training InstituteVocational1988 NCVT, Maharashtra Knowledge Corporation Limited (MKCL) Vidyavihar, Mumbai
K J Somaiya Medical College and Research Centre Medical1991 MCI Maharashtra University of Health Sciences Ayurvihar, Sion, Mumbai
S K Somaiya College of Arts, Science and CommerceDegree1995 NAAC University of Mumbai Vidyavihar, Mumbai
K J Somaiya Institute of Technology Engineering2001 NBA, NAAC, AICTE, DTE University of Mumbai Ayurvihar, Sion, Mumbai
K J Somaiya College of PhysiotherapyPhysiotherapy2002 Maharashtra University of Health Sciences Ayurvihar, Sion, Mumbai
K J Somaiya College of NursingNursing2011Maharashtra Nursing Council
Indian Nursing Council
Maharashtra University of Health Sciences Ayurvihar, Sion, Mumbai
Somaiya Kala VidyaArts2014 Adipur, Kutch, Gujarat

Schools

In rural India, Somaiya Vidyavihar operates six schools across locations including Dahanu, Sakarwadi, Laxmiwadi, Kopargaon (Maharashtra), Kutch (Gujarat), Sameerwadi, Bagalkot (Karnataka), and Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh). [12] [13]

In 2019, Class 10 students of Somaiya Vidya Mandir Laxmiwadi and Somaiya Vidya Mandir Sakarwadi achieved a 90% pass rate in the Maharashtra State Secondary Certificate (SSC) examinations, with two female students topping their schools in rural Ahmednagar. [14] In 2020, a student of Class 10th of Somaiya School achieved a top score in the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Class 10 examination for the Mumbai and Pune regions. [15]

In June 2024, it opened Somaiya Vidya Mandir School in Rehti, Madhya Pradesh, to provide education to children from the Budhni, Rehti, Nasrullaganj and Obedullaganj regions. [16]

SchoolYear FoundedAccreditation/AffiliationLocation
Primary School1942 Kopargaon, Ahmednagar district, Maharashtra
Somaiya Vidya Mandir, Sakarwadi1959 Maharashtra State Board Sakarwadi, Kopargaon, Ahmednagar district, Maharashtra
Somaiya Vidya Mandir - Laxmiwadi1959 Maharashtra State Board Laxmiwadi, Rahata, Ahmednagar district, Maharashtra
K.J.Somaiya Secondary School, Nareshwadi1974 Maharashtra State Board Nareshwadi, Palghar district, Maharashtra
Somaiya Shishu Niketan Primary School1974 KSEEB Sameerwadi, Mudhol, Bagalkot district, Karnataka
Sou. Leelaben M Kotak Primary School1983 MSBTE Nareshwadi, Palghar district, Maharashtra
Somaiya Vinaymandir High School1984 KSEEB Sameerwadi, Mudhol, Bagalkot district, Karnataka
K J Somaiya English Medium School2004 CBSE Sameerwadi, Mudhol, Bagalkot district, Karnataka
The Somaiya School2012 CBSE Vidyavihar, Mumbai
Shri Sharda English Medium School2012 CBSE Kopargaon, Maharashtra
Somaiya Vidya Mandir2024Bori Village, Rehti, Madhya Pradesh

Leadership

At Somaiya Vidyavihar, the presidency is currently held by Samir Somaiya [17] , who assumed the position in 2011. [18]

Its first president was Natwarlal H. Bhagwati, a retired Supreme Court of India judge and former vice-chancellor of both the University of Bombay and Banaras Hindu University. [2] Previously, the organisation was presided over by Justice P. N. Bhagwati, a former Chief Justice of India. Additionally, Karamshi Jethabhai Somaiya and S.K. Somaiya have both served as Vice Presidents and Presidents of Somaiya Vidyavihar in the past. [18]

Initiatives and activities

RiiDL

The Research Innovation Incubation Design Laboratory Foundation (RiiDL) was established in 2010 by Somaiya Vidyavihar as an initiative to promote entrepreneurship and innovation. [19] [20] RiiDL functions as a business incubator supported by the Government of India's Department of Science and Technology (DST), Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), and the Maharashtra State Innovation Society (MSINS). [19] [21] It provides educational programs, infrastructure access, and connects startups with a network of mentors, investors, and advisors. Startup India selected RiiDL as one of the centers to celebrate National Startup Day in 2023. [22]

Maker Mela

Since 2015, Somaiya Vidyavihar has hosted the annual Maker Mela, a platform for showcasing grassroots innovations in India across various fields including arts, crafts, engineering, science, and agriculture. The event features maker booths, speaker sessions, and cultural programs, attracting a diverse audience annually and organised by RiiDL. [23] [24]

Darwin

Darwin is an annual conference event organized by Somaiya Vidyavihar through Bioriidl, a part of the Riidl, to promote open science and bio-entrepreneurship. The event features talks, workshops, hackathons, and research symposiums. [25] [26]

Recognition

Karamshi Jethabhai Somaiya, the founder, was posthumously awarded the Padma Bhushan, India's third-highest civilian award, in 2000 for his contributions to social work. [27]

Other

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">M. G. K. Menon</span> Indian physicist

Mambillikalathil Govind Kumar Menon also known as M. G. K. Menon, was a physicist and policy maker from India. He had a prominent role in the development of science and technology in India over four decades. One of his most important contributions was nurturing the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, which his mentor Homi J. Bhabha founded in 1945.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan</span> Indian space scientist

Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan is an Indian space scientist who headed the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) from 1994 to 2003. He is presently Chancellor of Central University of Rajasthan and NIIT University. He is the former chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University and the chairman of Karnataka Knowledge Commission. He is a former member of the Rajya Sabha (2003–09) and a former member of the now defunct Planning Commission of India. He was also the director of the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore, from April 2004 to 2009. He is a recipient of the three major civilian awards from the Government of India: the Padma Shri, the Padma Bhushan and the Padma Vibhushan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anil Kakodkar</span> Indian nuclear physicist (born 1943)

Anil Kakodkar, is an Indian nuclear physicist and mechanical engineer. He was the chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission of India and the Secretary to the Government of India, he was the Director of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay from 1996 to 2000. He was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, India's second highest civilian honour, on 26 January 2009.

K. J. Somaiya College of Engineering (KJSCE) was established in 1983 as a college affiliated to the University of Mumbai. The college received autonomous status in 2014 and since 2019 the college is affiliated to Somaiya Vidyavihar University. It offers 4 year bachelor's degree engineering courses, 2 year postgraduate programmes and runs Ph.D research centres in various disciplines. KJSCE is situated in Somaiya Vidyavihar University campus which is spread across approximately 65 acres of posh land. Earlier it was also one of the only 7 autonomous engineering colleges in Mumbai.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elphinstone College</span> Constituent of Dr. Homi Bhabha State University in Mumbai, India

Elphinstone College is one of the constituent colleges of Dr. Homi Bhabha State University, a state cluster university. Established in 1856, it is one of the oldest colleges in Mumbai. It played a major role in shaping and developing the educational landscape of the city. It also played a pivotal role in the inception of the University of Mumbai.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Institute of Science, Mumbai</span>

The Institute of Science (formerly known as the Royal Institute of Science (RIS)) is an institution of postgraduate education and research located in Mumbai, India. It is managed by the Government of Maharashtra and is currently clustered from 2019 batch with the Dr. Homi Bhabha State University. However, previously enrolled batch students will get their degree affiliated to the Mumbai University. It is accredited with an 'A' Grade by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) in March 2014.

Somaiya Vidyavihar University is a private university located in the Vidyavihar suburb of Mumbai, India. Established in 2019, it is the second-largest campus in Mumbai after IIT Bombay, covering an area of approximately 60 acres. Somaiya Vidyavihar University offers undergraduate and postgraduate programs in various fields, including arts and humanities, science and technology, engineering, teacher education, research, management, commerce and business studies, sports, religion and culture, and entrepreneurship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maharashtra University of Health Sciences</span> Higher education institute in Nashik, India

Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) is a higher Medical education institution in Nashik, Maharashtra, India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">G. Madhavan Nair</span> Indian aerospace engineer

G. Madhavan Nair is an Indian space scientist and a former Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation, and Secretary to the Department of Space, Government of India. His tenure saw commencement of Indian Human Spaceflight Programme and launch of extraterrestrial exploration mission Chandrayaan-I.

The K J Somaiya Institute of Management (KJSIM) formerly known as K J Somaiya Institute of Management Studies & Research (SIMSR) is an independent business school located in Somaiya Vidyavihar, Mumbai. It was established in 1981 as a part of the K. J. Somaiya Trust and Somaiya Vidyavihar. KJSIM was granted the status of autonomous institute by the University Grants Commission in May 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karamshi Jethabhai Somaiya</span>

Karamshi Jethabhai Somaiya was an Indian educationist who founded educational institutes in Maharashtra state in India. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan for his service to society in 2000. The Somaiya Vidyavihar educational campus in Mumbai and several colleges in this campus are named after him. He was also an industrialist and founder of Somaiya Group of industries.

K. J. Somaiya Institute of Technology (KJSIT) was established by the Somaiya Trust in the 2001, at Ayurvihar campus, Sion, Mumbai, India. It is an autonomous institute affiliated to the University of Mumbai.

K. J. Somaiya Medical College & Research Centre is a trust medical college in the heart of Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. The college was founded by Karamshi Jethabhai Somaiya and run by Somaiya trust. It has 100 undergraduate seats for MBBS matriculants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Institute of Chemical Technology</span> Public deemed university in Mumbai, India

Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT) is a public deemed university in Mumbai, India. The institute also has campuses at Bhubaneswar, Odisha and Jalna,. It is focused on training and research in the fields of chemical engineering, chemical technology, and pharmaceutical sciences. It was established in 1933 and was granted deemed university status in 2008, making it the only state-funded deemed university in India. On 12 February 2018 it was given the status of Category 1 institute with graded autonomy by the Ministry of Human Resource Development and the University Grants Commission (India). It is also an institute with a special status as mentioned in SECTION IV of the Report of the Empowered Expert Committee in 2018.

Gyan Prakash Chopra (1920-2011) was an Indian educationist, credited with the establishment of several educational institutions in India. A recipient of the Padma Shri in 1999, he was honored again by the Government of India, in 2010, with the Padma Bhushan, the third highest civilian award, for his services to the field of education.

Luis Jose De Souza is an Indian surgical oncologist and the founder of Shanti Avedna Ashram, a charitable trust which runs a network of hospices in Mumbai and Goa. He has also contributed to the establishment of Indian Cancer Cell, an educational program co-sponsored by Tata Memorial Centre, Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) and Indian Cancer Society, for creating cancer awareness in schools. The Government of India awarded him the fourth-highest civilian honour of the Padma Shri in 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">G. D. Yadav</span> Indian chemical engineer (born 1952)

Ganapati Dadasaheb Yadav is an Indian chemical engineer, inventor and academic, known for his research on nanomaterials, gas absorption with chemical reaction and phase transfer catalysis. He served as the vice chancellor of the Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai from 2009 until November 2019. He is currently the Emeritus Professor of Eminence at ICT Mumbai.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BETiC</span>

BETIC based at Indian Institute of Technology Bombay is an inter-disciplinary multi-institution initiative for medical device innovation. Established in 2014 with support from the government of Maharashtra, it comprises a network of 14 engineering and medical institutes across the state. The BETIC team have developed 50 medical devices as of 2019, and licensed 20 of them to startup companies or industry for mass production.

References

  1. 1 2 "Unlocking Excellence: The Saga of Somaiya Vidyavihar". Delhi: The Indian Express. November 7, 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Raja Mangalvedhekar; Dr. G. T. Sawant (May 16, 2007). Padmabhushan Karamshi Jethabhai Somaiya (PDF). The Book Centre Limited. p. 202-208.
  3. Agarwala, R.P. (1970). Eastern Economist - Volume 56. Eastern Economist, the University of Michigan. p. 236. Somaiya Vidyavihar plays a significant role . While Bombay is a centre for learning and is the seat of Bombay university , the city sadly lacks campus environment . The Vidyavihar society is trying to fill this gap in a small measure by ...
  4. Varsha Adalja. Karamshi. The Book Centre Ltd, Mumbai Marathi Grantha Sangrahalaya Bldg, Mumbai . ISBN   978-81-7039-291-0.
  5. Aijaz, S. (July 1, 2015). "How Somaiya Vidyavihar turned two rural Marathi schools into model institutions". Yourstory.
  6. 1 2 3 "Foundation". Somaiya.edu. June 2023.
  7. Qazi, Musab (February 21, 2019). "Mumbai gets first-ever private university". Hindustan Times.
  8. "Somaiya becomes Mumbai's first private university". The Times of India. February 21, 2019.
  9. "Launched atop ISRO's PSLV-C58: Satellite developed by Mumbai students". Indian Express. January 4, 2024.
  10. Vijay, Sunidhi (January 2, 2024). "Mumbai's Somaiya College Brings Visionary Dream To Life, Launches Satellite In Collaboration With ISRO". The Free Press Journal.
  11. Pandit, Niraj (July 1, 2023). "12 autonomous MU colleges granted 'empowered' tag". Hindustan Times.
  12. "Student from Somaiya Vidyavihar brings Gold in Commonwealth Judo Championship held at Great Britain". Youth Inc Mag. October 7, 2019.
  13. Balaram, Rajashree (March 2016). "Reaching the grassroot". New Woman. Pioneer Book: 61.
  14. Jaisinghani, Bella (June 16, 2015). "Daughters of wireman and farmer score over 90% at SSC exam". The Times of India.
  15. Murdeshwar, Sachin (September 5, 2020). "The Somaiya School's Kaashvi Kamath tops CBSE Class X post re-evaluation". Global Prime News.
  16. "प्रदेश के आदिवासी इलाके में बच्चों को शिक्षा देगा सोमैया विद्या विहार, 50 बच्चों ने लिया दाखिला". Amar Ujala. 2024-06-28.
  17. "Qimpro Gold Standard 2023". Qimpro.com.
  18. 1 2 "The Presidency". somaiya.edu.in.
  19. 1 2 "Thousands of visitors make Maker Mela 2019 a grand success". BioSpectrum. January 23, 2019.
  20. Vasudevan, Shilpa (September 4, 2015). "Spark-plugging the Cradle of Change". New Indian Express.
  21. Wettmarshausen, Nicola (November 17, 2017). "Riidl is a makerspace for Mumbaikars that can help them bring their pet projects to life". Firstpost.
  22. "Riidl Somaiya Vidyavihar celebrates National Startup Day". Express Computer. January 18, 2023.
  23. "Hundreds of students and innovation enthusiasts throng Maker Mela". The Times of India. January 11, 2020.
  24. Rebello, Maleeva (October 7, 2015). "Maker Mela: Celebrating innovation and entrepreneurship across craft, engineering and science". Mid Day.
  25. Jedhe, Eeshwari (November 22, 2023). "Somaiya Vidyavihar announces the 5th edition of Darwin". Pune Mirror.
  26. "Somaiya Vidyavihar hosts 4th Edition of Darwin to nucleate & nurture biotechnology". BioVoice News. February 13, 2023.
  27. "Padma Awards 2000". Padma Awards Dashboard. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
  28. Hussain, Farzana (2022). Mumbai Local Train Insight of Mumbai Locals. Blue Rose Publishers. p. 35.