At the time of Indian independence, there were a number of schools imparting primary and secondary education in and around Wai, but there was not a single college for the students living in Wai, Khandala, Koregaon, Mahableshwar and Jaoli talukas of Satara district. Taking into consideration this dire need of the rural population, Kisan (Abasaheb) Mahadeo Veer, the veteran freedom fighter, organized a Meeting of the Committee called Janata Mahavidyalaya Samiti on 16th July 1961. The committee took the decision of establishing a college in Wai and accordingly, submitted its proposal to Pune University for affiliation. The Committee, during its visit to Wai, made a recommendation that the new college could be established only under the Management of the Society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. As a result, it was decided to establish the college under the Management of Prajnapathasalamandal, Wai, the institution which had been making strenuous efforts in the religious reformation in Maharashtra and which had been engrossed in important research such as Dharmakosha, Mimamsakosha, etc.
“Arts and Commerce College, Wai” was established in June 1962 in the huts built by Dr. D. N. Ghokale for the hospital after they were being suitably converted for the purposes and requirements of the college. The idea of starting the college was pioneered by Abasaheb Veer and it was properly developed and supported by Tarkateertha Laxmanshastri Joshi, the then Chairman of the Maharashtra State Board for Literature and Culture and the Chief Editor for the Marathi Vishwakosha (Encyclopedia). The Mandal purchased a land of ten acres on which “Vidyakutis” were constructed. Initially, the college was affiliated to the University of Pune. After the establishment of Shivaji University, Kolhapur, it, along with the other colleges of the four districts of Satara, Sangli, Solapur and Kolhapur, was affiliated to the new university.
The zeal of the pioneers in promoting higher education in the rural population and the efforts they took in mobilizing popular and monetary support were commendable indeed. Voluntary workers under the able leadership of Shri Abasaheb Veer came together and formed an educational society called Janata Shikshan Sanstha, Wai. As the Prajnapathashalamandal was unable to bear the expenditure of running the college, Janata Shikshan Sanstha, Wai took over the management from the Mandal on 1 April 1968. Abasaheb Veer donated
Rs. 57000/- to the Sanstha from the felicitation amount given to him by the public. Sixteen farmers of Wai Taluka mortgaged their lands to raise Rs. 1,50,000/- in the form of loan from the Sangli Bank Ltd. to pay the amount due to the Prajnapathashalamandal, Wai. Hon. Prataprao Bhosale paid from his own pocket to Prajnapathashalamandal at the time of transferring the college to Janata Shikshan Sanstha. The New Main Building, constructed under the leadership of Abasaheb Veer, was inaugurated at the hands of Hon. Shri. Yashwantrao Chavan, the then Foreign Minister of India, on 15th February 1976. Later, Hon. Shri Yashwantrao Chavan also performed the naming ceremony of the Arts and Commerce College as “Kisan Veer Mahavidyalaya, Wai” on 1st September 1980.
Dr. Appasaheb Pawar, the then Vice Chancellor of Shivaji University, Kolhapur inaugurated the M. Com. Classes on 4 July 1969. In 1973, the postgraduate classes of Marathi and English were added. The UG classes of the college got the permanent affiliation to Shivaji University, Kolhapur in 1982. The same year Science Faculty was added to the college. The Hon Shri Prataprao Bhosale, through his personal initiative, raised donations to construct the second section of the Main Building consisting of spacious and well-equipped Science laboratories, big classrooms and chambers of the teaching faculty. The Hon Shri Prataprao Bhosale received “Abasaheb Veer Samajik Puraskar” from Kisanveer Satara Co-operative Sugar Factory, Ltd. Bhuinj and donated
Rs. 100000/-, the amount of the award, to Janata Shikshan Sanstha, Wai.
The Management has opened a distance education centre affiliated to Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University, Nashik from the academic year 2006-2007. At first, around 150 students took the advantage of this facility. Today, more than 2500 students have been pursuing BA, B Com and BCM degree courses of this Centre. The Department of BCA (Bachelor of Computer Applications) has been providing computer education from the academic year 2008-2009. M. Sc. (Organic Chemistry) has been introduced since 2012-2013. Recently, Statistics and Psychology subjects have been introduced at the third year degree level. The Management has developed such facilities as huge playground, Students Co-operative Store, Parking, Canteen, Women’s Hostel, Indoor Sports Hall, Wrestling Complex, etc. over the years. The Management has shown a great sense of social commitment by constructing “Jai Kisan Boys Hostel” for the students belonging to the families affected by the suicides of the farmers in Maharashtra. All the stakeholders of the college have provided financial assistance to the construction of this hostel. The Management now plans to construct a State-of-the-Art Library with the capacity of One Lak books.
The current Management of the Sanstha is as follows:
Sr. No. |
Name |
Designation |
| 1 | Hon. Shri. Prataprao Baburao Bhosale | Founder & Trustee |
| 2 | Hon. Shri. Madan Prataprao Bhosale | President |
| 3 | Hon. Shri. Shankarrao Dajiba Gadhave | Vice-President |
| 4 | Hon. Dr. Jaywant Subhedar Chaudhari | Secretary & Member |
| 5 | Hon. Shri. Narayan Vishnu Chaudhari | Treasurer & Member |
| 6 | Hon. Shri. Keshav Vishnu Jadhav (Padale) | Member |
| 7 | Hon. Shri. Suresh Jaysingh Yadav | Member |
| 8 | Hon. Shri. Milind Laxmanrao Jadhav-Patil | Member |
| 9 | Hon. Principal Dr. Gurunath Jotiba Fagare | Ex-officio-Member |
The Management of Janata Shikshan Sanstha, Wai shoulders parental responsibility and cares for every organ of the institution. The Management monitors the overall functioning of the college through the LMC/CDC (Competent Legal Statutory Body) and the IQAC. The Management has delegated its power and responsibilities to the competent authorities like The Principal, Coordinators, and Committee Conveners and the IQAC. It has thus adopted the policy of decentralization of powers in the process of academic administration and development. The Management allows the faculty adequate freedom in performing various duties and responsibilities in tune with the vision and mission statements of the institution.The Management gives an opportunity to the faculty members to participate in workshops, seminars and conferences at different levels. Teachers have been deputed for Ph. D under FIP and for orientation and refresher courses. The management motivates the students, teachers, the Non-teaching staff to maintain Unity and Team spirit in the institution. It also promotes competitive spirit and healthy practices. The Management mobilizes resources by raising funds from the Alumni and from the well-wishers of the institution. The Management takes a review of academic and administrative work by organizing meetings with all the staff from time to time. The Management organizes a Programme called “Gunagourav of the Students and Teachers” (Annual Appreciation Day) on the occasion of the Foundation Day of Janata Shikshan Sanstha, Wai every year and felicitates meritorious students. The Management organizes Guest Lectures on profound thoughts and ideas of great thinkers and freedom fighters from time to time.
The Sanstha runs the following Schools and Colleges:
- Kisan Veer Senior Mahavidyalaya, Wai
- Kisan Veer Junior Mahavidyalaya, Wai
- Madyamik Vidyalaya, Khanapur
- New English School, Vyajwadi
- Madyamik Vidyalaya, Shirgaon
- ArvindbPawar (Patil) Madnyamik Vidyalaya, Vele
- New English School, Dhawadi
- Laxmibai Veer Madhyamik Vidyalaya, Shedurjane
- Madhyamik Vidyalaya, Govedigar