Gokhale Education Society, a premier educational organization in the country established a secondary school at Bordi a remote village in Thane district, in 1920. The objective was to spread secondary education in rural areas. Princiapal T. A. Kulkarni, then ‘Chairman of Gokhale Education Society’ took lead in establishing this school. Smt. Dhanbai Pestonji Hakimji a great philanthropist from Gholwad gave donation in memory of her mother Smt. Soonabai Pestonji Hakimji and so the school was named as Soonabai Hakimji Pestonji High School. The campus of this institution is situated on the sea coast and has beautiful natural surroundings. It has an idea atmosphere for imparting education. It reminds of ‘Gurukul’ of our ancient culture.
The institute was very fortunate to get leadership of Acharya Bhise, who was a great visionary in rural education. He emphasized on value education along with academic curriculum to be taught in the classroom. He also introduced vocational education in the form of spinning, weaving and agriculture in school curriculum to make education relevant to the needs of rural people. The institute had a band of devoted teachers like Chitre Guruji and AtmaramPant Save who considered service to their students as a sacred duty. The teachers of this school took active part in India’s freedom struggle and underwent imprisonment. They inspired their students to participate in the freedom struggle. The school at Bordi was therefore recognized as a ‘National school’ during the pre-independence period.
The institute has inculcated a spirit of idealism amongst its students to serve their motherland. The institution feels proud of its past-students who rendered valuable service in various fields and made contribution in nation building. The past students of the institution have built an auditorium during silver jubilee celebration of the school in 1945 and named it as ‘Gurudakshina Mandir’ as a mark of respect to their teachers. The auditorium revives the cherished memories of the past students who pay visit to the school and also reminds them the teaching and preaching of their teachers. The past students of the school have also established “The SPH High School Past Pupils’ Association’ to keep permanent contact with school where they received education.
A residential hostel for boys is constructed and is serving students from Maharashtra and Gujarat states for past 80 years. Late Shri. Chitre Guruji had devoted his life for the service of students living in “Shardashram”. The students who stayed in Shardashram feel very fortunate that they received education under the saintly teacher like Acharya Bhise and Chitre Guruji. They regularly come to Bordi to pay their homage to their great teachers.
With the view to cater to the need of technical education, Godrej Technical institute was established in 1962. At the advent of new pattern of education in Maharashtra, Phirojsha Godrej Junior college was started in 1975. For both these institutes Godrej Boce & Company of Mumbai gave donation. In contribution with the science education at +2 level N. B Mehta of (Valwada) Science college was opened in the year 1994. It was a happy coincidence that the institute celebrated its Amrit Mohotsav (the 75th anniversary) in the same year. The college in named after Shri. NB Mehta who was a teacher in SPH High School. His son Shri Nitinbhai gave donation to this college. The college has excellent facilities of laboratories, library and classrooms. The Science college will not only cater the needs of higher education of students but create scientific temper in rural masses which is the need of the day. Besides conventional courses, it imparts scientific knowledge through subject such as Biotechnology, information Technology and computer science.
The society has also established Lalita Jaykumar Pathare Institue of Information Technology in 1999 with excellent modern facilities in computer education & information technology. Smt. Lalita Pathare is a past student of SPH High School. Her husband Shri. Jaykumar Pathare is well known industrialist gave donation to establish this institution. There are excellent facilities of computer laboratories, library, seminar halls etc. The institute attached to N B Mehta Science college and offers degrees in computer science and information technology of University of Mumbai.
In the year 1993-94, incidentally the centenary year of Acharya Bhise & Atmarampant Save, the society decided to start English Medium School by opening a division of Jr. KG and the same was named as Prin. AtmaramPant Save KG School. Every year a division of higher standard was added by natural growth and the government of Maharashtra gave saction for opening a division of Std. VIII from the academic year 2002-03.
At present we have full-fledged English Medium High School right upto Std. X. The secondary section has been named after Pujya Chitre Guruji English Medium High School in the memory of Late Krishnarao Mahadeo Chitre alias Chitre Guruji.
We have been able to maintain the good academic standard of the school where students from all strata of the society get admission. The computer education is introduced along with regular academic curriculum from Std. I through X . A modern computer laboratory is also set in the school where even the students of economically lower classes get opportunity to play computer games. More emphasis is given on sports activities so that sport-talent can be tapped at a young age.
We aspire to develop this School into an ideal institute where students will learn our rich and varied heritage and culture. Our aim is to create not only scholars but also responsible citizens.
With the support of the chairman and secretary of Gokhale Education Society and co-operation from citizens of Bordi, Gholwad and surrounding villages, we are confident that this school will soon develop in to an ideal English Medium School in rural area.
