The Father of Tribal Education in Satpuda
“Education would be much more effective if its purpose was to ensure that by the time they leave school every boy and girl should know how much they do not know, and be imbued with a lifelong desire to know it.” It is well said by William Haley.
In Satpuda Ranges people were afraid of the people wearing trousers and shirts. During the British rule tribal were exploited too much. The Adivasi leader and Social worker, Mr. Janardan Poharya Valvi has seen his father carrying a British officer on his shoulders like a horse and was being beaten with a whip. At that very moment he decided that he will not tolerate this. He decided to learn and make his people educated. In his house nobody was ready to send him in the school. But he himself left the home taking blessings of his Mother. When he came at Taloda the superitendent of the boarding demanded 100 Rs as security deposit because the pupils from Satpuda used to run away from the boarding. He assured the superitendent but he wouldnot listen. Then Shankar Vinayak Thakar helped him for that. Mr. Janardan Poharya Valvi was adviced by Nanasaheb Thakar that he must visit him after he gets the job appointment letter. Mr. Maharaj (we call him so with love and respect. It means a person like God, having no bad habit) got an appointment letter as he had passed his Agricultural Deploma. He was to be appointed as Asstt. Agri-Officer. At that time he went to Nanasaheb Thakar to show him the appointment letter. Nanasaheb Thakar asked him, "After getting the job you will marry and bring up your children. In short, you will be setteled. But what will happen to your other Adivasi brothers living in the Satpuda Ranges." Mr. Janardan Maharaj thought for a minute and then tore down the appointment letter. For his people’s sake, he took oath not to have service throughout the life but social service.This Nanasaheb Thakar helped Maharaj in many ways. He Made him to get the ticket of Congress Party for Legislative Assembly. Eventually Maharaj was elected as MLA of Combine Maharashtra. He put up many questions in the Assembly about the problems and troubles of Tribal Adivasis in the area. Nanasaheb Thakar was his first Political Adviser and Teacher.
He is now 84 running. He is awarded many awards: 'Dalit Mitra', Adivasi Sevak' from the government of Maharashtra and “Man of the year Award: Ford Foundation, USA”. He is the President of his educational organization, Adivasi Satpuda Shikshan Prasarak Mandal, Dhadgaon. The organization runs 26 different kinds of Educational branches like Schools, Ashram Schools, Colleges and Hostels for Tribal Boys & Girls.
Education is an ornament in prosperity and a refuge in adversity. ~Aristotle
Now in this age also he is ready to travel a thousand km/day. He is planning to start a vocational training course for the tribal boys & girls who have been dropped out from Education.
In Satpuda Ranges people were afraid of the people wearing trousers and shirts. During the British rule tribal were exploited too much. The Adivasi leader and Social worker, Mr. Janardan Poharya Valvi has seen his father carrying a British officer on his shoulders like a horse and was being beaten with a whip. At that very moment he decided that he will not tolerate this. He decided to learn and make his people educated. In his house nobody was ready to send him in the school. But he himself left the home taking blessings of his Mother. When he came at Taloda the superitendent of the boarding demanded 100 Rs as security deposit because the pupils from Satpuda used to run away from the boarding. He assured the superitendent but he wouldnot listen. Then Shankar Vinayak Thakar helped him for that. Mr. Janardan Poharya Valvi was adviced by Nanasaheb Thakar that he must visit him after he gets the job appointment letter. Mr. Maharaj (we call him so with love and respect. It means a person like God, having no bad habit) got an appointment letter as he had passed his Agricultural Deploma. He was to be appointed as Asstt. Agri-Officer. At that time he went to Nanasaheb Thakar to show him the appointment letter. Nanasaheb Thakar asked him, "After getting the job you will marry and bring up your children. In short, you will be setteled. But what will happen to your other Adivasi brothers living in the Satpuda Ranges." Mr. Janardan Maharaj thought for a minute and then tore down the appointment letter. For his people’s sake, he took oath not to have service throughout the life but social service.This Nanasaheb Thakar helped Maharaj in many ways. He Made him to get the ticket of Congress Party for Legislative Assembly. Eventually Maharaj was elected as MLA of Combine Maharashtra. He put up many questions in the Assembly about the problems and troubles of Tribal Adivasis in the area. Nanasaheb Thakar was his first Political Adviser and Teacher.
He is now 84 running. He is awarded many awards: 'Dalit Mitra', Adivasi Sevak' from the government of Maharashtra and “Man of the year Award: Ford Foundation, USA”. He is the President of his educational organization, Adivasi Satpuda Shikshan Prasarak Mandal, Dhadgaon. The organization runs 26 different kinds of Educational branches like Schools, Ashram Schools, Colleges and Hostels for Tribal Boys & Girls.
Education is an ornament in prosperity and a refuge in adversity. ~Aristotle
Now in this age also he is ready to travel a thousand km/day. He is planning to start a vocational training course for the tribal boys & girls who have been dropped out from Education.
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