"My mother sowed the seed of educational leadership in me", Sharad Pawar expresses gratitude at the silver jubilee of Dhareshwar Vidya and Krida Pratishthan

Pune: "People from previous generations took great pains to bring education to rural communities. My mother, Sharda Pawar, was a member of the local board. Shankarrao More, the then-chairman of the local board, called a mandatory meeting on educational activities for all members. I was only six days old at the time. My mother took me with her to the meeting, so I started school at the age of six days. From a very early stage in my life, my mother instilled in me the importance of educational leadership. That’s why I have been able to contribute to many educational institutions," said Rajya Sabha MP and NCP (SP) supremo Sharad Pawar. He was speaking at the closing ceremony of the silver jubilee year of Dhareshwar Vidya and Krida Pratishthan, Dhayari.

Many prominent figures attended the ceremony organized on the Pratishthan premises. These included Sopan alias Kakasaheb Chavan, founder of the Pratishthan and organizer of the event; Director Aniket Chavan; Senior leader Ulhas Pawar; Industrialist Vitthal Maniar; Ex-MP Ashok Mohol; MLC Ranjitsinh Mohite-Patil; Ex-Minister Balasaheb Shivarkar; Ex-MLA Kumar Gosavi; Chandrakant Mokate; Prashant Jagtap – City chief of NCP (SP); District President Jagannath Shewale; Principal Dr. Sudhakar Jadhwar; NCP Women President Swati Pokale; Nandusheth Chavan; Shrirang Chavan; Sachin Dodke; Bhimrao Chavan; Prabhawati Bhumkar; Navnath Parge; Ravindra Malvadkar; Dr. Sunil Jagtap; Naresh Mittal; Trimbak Mokashi; Dhananjay Benkar, and other dignitaries. A souvenir showcasing the activities of the institute and a video depicting its 25-year journey were released on the occasion.

Pawar said, "A few years ago, Dhayari was a rural region. With its inclusion in the municipal area, development was expected. As the environment changes, so do the people. However, Kaka Chavan has provided quality education to the poor children of this area by establishing an educational institution in Dhayari. Pune is the homeland of education, and the city is known for its more than a hundred-year-old educational tradition. Students come from various cities to study in Pune. The field of education, which was once limited to the city, has now expanded to the outskirts. The next generation of farmers is being educated, and some have even donated their land to educational institutions. A knowledge center was established. Good educational institutions are making a significant contribution in rural areas, creating new generations. Shankarrao More, Baburao Gholap, Mamasaheb Mohol, Vitthalrao Satav, Annasaheb Awate, and my mother Shardabai Pawar were also involved in expanding education in rural areas."

Pawar proudly stated that he has been working as the president of Rayat Shikshan Sanstha and several other institutions in Pune and Mumbai. "Seeing thousands of students graduating from these educational institutions gives me immense pleasure," he said.

In his introductory address, Kakasaheb Chavan said, "Hon’ble Sharad Pawar has made valuable contributions to the social, cultural, educational, and sports sectors of Maharashtra. He has been a leader of the masses for the last six decades. Over the past 25 years, Dhareshwar Vidya and Krida Pratishthan have emphasized the holistic development of education and the promotion of sports among children. Sharad Pawar is a dynamic university, and therefore books must be an inevitable part of his felicitation. So, we have arranged Granth Tula. All these books will be distributed to students in rural areas."

Ex-MP Ashok Mohol, Ulhas Pawar, and MLC Ranjitsinh Mohite-Patil also praised the contributions of Dhareshwar Vidya and Krida Pratishthan in their respective addresses. The event was hosted by Milind Kulkarni, and Principal Dr. Sudhakar Jadhwar offered a vote of thanks.

Books Give Us a Vision for Life: Pawar

"Books are tools for learning that shape our lives. The culture of reading needs to be promoted. Reading is learning. Books provide an opportunity to learn new things. Therefore, it is a matter of great pleasure that Dhareshwar Vidya and Krida Pratishthan concluded their silver jubilee year with my Granth Tula," said Sharad Pawar, urging the younger generation to build their personalities by reading more books stated a press release.