History

Our Origin

1. Mahatma Gandhi Sarvodaya Sangh traces its origins to the visit of Mahatma Gandhiji to Uruli Kanchan in 1946. In his stay of a week in Uruli Kanchan Mahatma Gandhiji initiated a course of events which has changed the fortunes of UruliKanchan forever.
2. Gandhiji established Nisargopchar Ashram (Nature Cure Center) at UruliKanchan and asked his disciple Manibhai Desai to develop this center as well as carry out the work of social reform amongst the rural poor.
3. In 1950 Manibhaiji collected 30 boys and started a school in a hut inside Nisargopchar Ashram. He was the first teacher. After 4 years this school shifted to temple-school complex in Uruli Kanchan. Mahatma Gandhi Sarvodaya Sangh was established by Dr. Manibhai Desai In 1952 with the objective of uplift of rural population through education. The purpose of founding this institution was to empower rural area around UruliKanchan, Pune district through Gandhian ideal of ‘sarvodaya, self determination and equality’.
4. Dr Manibhai Desai was honoured with the Padmashree award in 1968. In 1982, he was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Public Service. He received the Jamnalal Bajaj Award for Gandhian values, community values and social development in 1983.
5. After Manibhaiji’s passing away in 1993, Hon. Mr. Sharadchandraji Pawar Saheb became the President of the Mahatma Gandhi Sarvodaya Sangh. Under his able stewardship Mahatma Gandhi Sarvodaya Sangh has expanded by starting an English Medium School and a College (named after Dr Manibhai Desai)