Life and Education:

Govindrao Dnyanojirao Salunkhe alias Dr. Bapuji Salunkhe   was born in the village of Rampur in the Satara district’s Patan Taluka. In his early childhood, he was isolated from both of his parents. In the midst of difficulties, Bapuji had to obtain his schooling. He received his B.A. in 1945 and his B.T. in 1949. Bapuji was interested in Sanskrit and Marathi and had a great eloquence. His favourite subject was also mathematics. 

Initial Mission Phase:

Shikshan Maharshi Param Pujya Bapuji Salunkhe’s life and mission would be remembered as a golden era in Maharastra’s educational history. His educational journey started in 1940. When he was appoin3ted as ‘Rajguru’ in Sondur’s princely empire. But the energised patriot’s career came to an end when he plunged headlong into the maelstrom of Mahamta Gandhi’s “Quit India Movement.” Later, as chairman of the Satara District Student Congress in 1947, Bapuji was instrumental in raising money of Rs. one lakh in honour of Karmarveer Bhaurrao Patil, the founder of Rayat Shikshan Sanstha. This noble effort was recognised by none other than Mahatma Gandhi, who appointed Bapuji to the Indian National Congress. This noble mission was recognised by none other than Mahatma Gandhi, who signed a certificate for Bapuji to that effect in his own handwriting, which he still has. Bapuji wrote a short history of Satara district liberation fighters in 1948 based on personal interviews with activists.

       From 1945 to 1955, Bapuji worked for Rayat Shikshan Sanstha for a decade, first as a teacher and later as the headmaster of Mahatma Gandhi Vidyalya, Rukadi, which he built with his missionary enthusiasm and persistent efforts. Bapuji and a few of his colleagues departed the Sanstha in 1955.

Foundation of Shri Swami Vivekanand Shikshan Sanstha, Kolhapur  :

In the presence of his colleagues, Bapuji laid the cornerstone of a new education institute in Murlidhar temple at Karad on October 19, 1954, marking the start of a new phase in his career. At the request of Swami Ramanand Bharti, the sanstha’s first president, the intended educational institute was named after Shri Swami Vivekanand in November of 1954. Shri Swami Vivekanand Sanstha was legally registered on December 31, 1954, and officially launched on June 5, 1955. Bapuji and his associates established high schools in Kolhapur, Tasgaon, Chaphal, Tarale, and Undale, as well as a women’s training college in Karad and Boys’ Hostels in Kolhapur and Chaphal. This was simply the initial beginning of Shri Swami Vivekanand Shikshan Sanstha, which would soon grow to 88652 students across Maharastra and Karnataka. The sanstha has the highest number of teaching employees (3160), non-teaching staff (1221), and Sanstha office staff (1221). The sanstha has 176 buildings, and 70 more are being built alongside the new head office. For its staff, the sanstha has also established a credit society.

Bapuji : Nomenclature:

Govindrao Dnyanoji Salunkhe is his forename, but he is popularly known as ‘Bapuji.’ Because of the enormous impact Gandhiji had on his life, his family began calling him ‘Bapuji,’ and the moniker lasted with him throughout his life. 

Forego:

Bapuji has devoted his entire life to Shri Swami Vivekanand Shikshan Sanstha’s cause. From the beginning of the sanstha, he was only paid the minimum wage of an assistant school teacher. At the inauguration of late Dnyanojirao Salunkhe High-School, named after his father, in Patan in 1962, he presented his acquired property to the sanstha. He has also donated significant sums of money to the sanstha on several occasions. He transferred the sum of Rs.1,37,000/- he received as gurudakshina in 1973 to the sanstha’s expenses. In 1981, he handed over to honourable Vasantdada Patil, the sanstha’s presedint, the sum of Rs.5 lakh collected by the sanstha’s employees in honour of Bapuji on the occasion of his 60th birthday, plus Rs.101/- of his own, for proper use towards development initiatives.

Bapuji’s Education Philosophy:

The sanstha’s slogan was determined by Dr. Bapuji, who operated with missionary enthusiasm. It stands for “Spread of Education for the Propagation of Knowledge, Achievement, and Culture,” and emphasises the pursuit of knowledge and proper application of that knowledge so that man can become cultured and morally sound. All famous saints of the world are the incarnation of good and god, according to the sanstha’s prayer. They have the ability to enlighten humanity. Truth, integrity, character, honesty, sacrifice, and the rejection of exploitation are the ideals by which the cultured man must live. The guy who lives his life according to these ideals will undoubtedly gain true knowledge and intellectual ecstasy. Dr. Bapuji Salunkhe is a firm believer in this.

Gratitude & Acknowledgement :

The Maharastra government has honoured Bapuji with the title of ‘Freedom Fighter’ and the honorary title of ‘Dalit Mitra’ for his contributions to the country and education. People who have always held him in high regard have referred to him as “Shikshan Maharshi.” The sanstha has expressed its gratitude by naming a newly established college in Karad after this Shikshin Maharshi, who has dedicated his entire life to the cause of education and enlightenment for the masses. The chancellor of Shivaji University just agreed to award him an honorary D.Lit., which is a fitting end to his educational journey.  It must be a one-of-a-kind example of a humble teacher, through his missionary zeal, organisational capacity, and tireless labour, erecting an educational edifice with a vast network of educational centres throughout western Maharastra and North Karnataka, and therein lies the crowning glory of his life.