Know Our University
The SNDT Women’s University is getting ready to host its centenary celebration. The SNDT Women’s University owes its genesis to Bharat Ratna Maharshi Dhondo Keshav Karve, a great social reformer whose ceaseless efforts played a cardinal role in transforming the destiny of the Indian women. Fascinating and exciting journey towards empowerment of women in higher education continued in spite of many hurdles and challenges faced over last 100 years. Today vision of the SNDT Women’s University is to be a world class university that continually responds to the changing social realities through the academic excellence and application of knowledge. The purpose of such engagement is to create an inclusive society that promotes and protects the dignity, equality, social justice and human rights for all, with special emphasis on women. .
The Dream
Slowly but steadily the Maharshi’s ashram school grew into a well accepted institution in pune where young girls from educated families came to study. Encouraged by the success, his aspiration stretched. He dreamt of establishing a University for women. In 1916, the Indian Women’s University was launched with five students.
A Turning point
The turning point came when Sir vithaldas Thackersey, an eminent industrialist of Mumbai, also deeply committed to the cause of women’s education stepped forward with a donation of Rs.15 lakhs. The university was named Shrimati Nathibai Damodar Thackersey (SNDT) Women’s University in memory of his mother. In 1936 a campus ■ was established in Mumbai and the head office of the university was shifted to Mumbai.
A Distinct philosophy and purpose
As the University upgraded at its campuses at pune and Mumbai, its philosophy and its distinctive purpose took firm shape. The Women’s University set out create an atmosphere where girls can blossom into confident, self-reliant, responsible individuals, who can be a source of strength to their families, their community. This is as relevant today as it was a hundred years ago. The motto of the university is “-W^dl ^t M<i^lRn” Which means “an Enlightened women is a source of infinite strength.” Guided by this philosophy the University has developed many special features which’ make it distinctive and unique, it caters exclusively to women and offers programme relevant to them. The SNDT women’s university pioneered the concept of Distance education seven decades ago by allowing distant learners. Today,’ our Distance Education is one of the most reputed programmes in the country. It offers instructions in four media, English, Gujarati, Hindi and Marathi.
The University Today
In 1951 the University acquired statutory recognition from the Government of Maharashtra. This recognition came along with the rare privilege of jurisdiction across the country.
Today the University has three campuses-Pune, Churchgate and Juhu in Mumbai. In addition to 39 university Departments and 13 constituent colleges/ institutions located on Four campuses, it has 166affiliated colleges in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa Madhya Pardesh, Uttar Pradesh. It has an enrolment of over 70,000 students in liberal and professional programmes. These are offered thought 12 Faculties Viz Arts, Fine Arts, Social Science, Commerce, Science Education, Home Science, Law, Technology Management, Library and Information Science and social work.
