Deccan Education Society, a renowned name in the educational firmament, is standing at a significant milestone in its cherished history of service to the cause of education. Steeped in the glorious tradition set by its illustrious founders – Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Gopal Ganesh Agarkar, Vishnushastri Chiplunkar, Prin. Vaman Shivram Apte and Mahadeo Ballal Namjoshi – and assiduously nurtured by succeeding generations of devoted Life Members, the Society is an ideal blend of the traditional and the modern.
The seed was sown by the four young men in 1880 by starting New English School in Pune, the name that subsequently set a trend far and wide. The school made rapid progress and within a short time acquired widespread reputation for its high standards of education. These young men (‘managers of the school’ as they were termed then) felt the need to take their efforts further to meet the need for higher education.
24th October, 1884 is the day that marks the beginning of a journey that continues to this day and would continue for eons to come. By founding the Deccan Education Society on what happens to be one of the most auspicious days in the Hindu calendar (‘Vijaya Dashami’) , these great stalwarts embarked on a path that would, they were convinced, lead the masses to a new awakening and salvation. They believed in education as the best means of social transformation. With faith and determination, they steadfastly pursued their mission and the acorn of the yesteryears grew into an oak. Time has vindicated their faith and vision. In less than three months, the fledgling Society started what is today one of the most illustrious, renowned and highly esteemed institutions – Fergusson College, even the mere mentionof which evokes reverential and proud feelings in the hearts of millions. It has achieved an iconic status. The activities of the Society soon picked up momentum, and one after another, other institutions – schools and colleges – came to be started or brought within its fold.
The DES family was growing. There were significant landmark occasions in its life, when, for instance, the Society decided – on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of Fergusson College in 1935 – to start a technology institute on its campus, and later started Brihan Maharashtra College of Commerce in 1943, only the second single – faculty commerce college in the then Bombay province.
Today, Deccan Education Society is a dynamic conglomeration of well over 57 educational institutions, acknowledged as centres of quality education, with firm commitment to the pursuit of excellence.
The DES institutions – at Pune, Mumbai, Sangli, Satara and Wai range from pre – primary schools to post-graduate and research institutions. They include primary, secondary and higher – secondary schools, degree colleges in Arts, Science and Commerce, Management, Agriculture and Law with facilities for post – graduate studies in several subjects, institutes of technical and vocational education, and the recently started colleges of law, nursing and physiotherapy.