History

Decade of 1980s:  Social, Educational and Economic conditions

There were riots erupted in Phaltan in 1974, 1984 and 1985. The minority Dalits were affected badly and forced to fear the majority.  Phaltan has large number of demographic variations, and Mangalwar Peth provides roof and land for so called Dalits i.e. scheduled castes and tribes population. Phaltan has large number of backward population in the whole Satara district and most of them were uneducated or under-educated. They can only get laborious, daily wages jobs. Most of them were unemployed. Poverty was there for them at every stage.  Only a handful of them were employed by the municipality as sweepers or cleaning staff. Unemployment naturally brings failure and frustration brings alcohol, marijuana and gambling such wrong practices in any society.

Since the constitutional revolution opened doors of opportunity education turns the canvas towards positivity. The messages of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar turns tobe oxygen to each and every backward and minority person. People received faith of living and education became the most powerful weapon to eradicate inhuman slavery. With the time, considerable number of parents registered their children to schools. But there was no assurance to confirm the attendance of children in school, as their parents leave for work early in the morning. Also, Parents could not help with their children’s studies either, because most of them were illiterate. The children were seen more on the streets or playgrounds than schools playing small games like ‘viti-dandu’ or ‘chaapa-kaata’. This ignorance negatively shifted towards addictive gambling. And such Bad addictions at young age killed their childhood and most of them died before time.

In addition to this pitiful, miserable conditions, Superstition became a vital point which destroyed person, family and society.  The condition became so miserable, that if someone gets ill in a family, then getting caught up in mumbo-jumbo, magic rituals was inevitable. This resulted into countless fantasies and rituals like Bhandara, Jagran-Gondhal, Maand, Jatra in these people. As a result, they sank deeper in debts.

The question arose here, how to change the whole picture, how to bring this restless, unorganized mass on a common platform of unite success. There had been churning within the society as to, how to bring them out of the pits of misery, poverty, addictions and superstitions and how to unite them.

Around 1985, a social movement has begun with title Dalit Panther.  It mobilizes the youth and agitates them with thoughts of Dr BR Ambedkar. It was a milestone, youth came together and started to point out issues and problems in society. But, again with the 1986 riots they got scattered and disorganized. This continues and continues.

This mountain of questions brought socio-political conflicts and hassles enlarges distance in youth, society. But, the birth anniversary festival i.e. Bhim Jayanti made balance with them; as everyone celebrates Bhim jayanti with great spontaneity and enthusiasm. The celebrations continue for two days and again the same previous distances resume.

Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar is that magnetic force which can bind all the society in one thread. With his visionary, long term, thoughts a society can attain all-round progress. That is why the institute is rightfully named after him as ‘Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Vichar Prasarak Mandal’ and was established and registered on 2nd June 1990.

Beginning of Prabuddha Vidyabhavan

We began with the thought of Dr BR Ambedkar – Educate Agitate Organise, our primary school has born with it. Our focus was clear to plough scientific thoughts through education in the society.  Since the beginning countless social and educational programs and events made us stand out and has proven effectiveness of our objectives to strengthen society.  Especially the initiatives to brought opportunity of education and awareness boost our teamwork.

Initiatives like free tuitions, Baalwadi, and night schools and classes got huge response. The result was clear, more number of children joined this learning process and their schooling progress started shining. This led to the foundation of the hostel with creative study methods, which received quite good response. Along with this, regular visits used to be conducted to local schools where these students were admitted. The progress of these students was regularly monitored and discussed with their teachers. For the students who were not present at the school, we used to go to their homes and bring them to school.

Considering gradually increasing number of students at the hostel, a proposal for hostel permission was given to the government. But we were told that we could not get hostel permission for local students.

One day while discussing the condition and progress of these students with some other teachers, one made a clear remark that, ‘these students are good for nothing and utterly useless in the academics. They don’t understand a single thing, no matter however you teach them’. These harsh remarks were quite hurtful to us. This led us to the decision of establishing a primary school namely ‘Prabuddha Vidyabhavan’.

It started with the admission of 19 students in the year 1993. But the school could not get the government acknowledgment for same year. So as per the government directive circular, the students were admitted to the other local schools. Subsequently 13 students got admission in the school in 1994 and the school received the permission from the government that year.

The students got admitted in the school in year 1993 and 1994 were all from scheduled castes and families from below poverty line. Their parents were not so keen on looking after their studies. So, the institute and Prabuddha Vidyabhavan decided to give special attention to the progress of these kids.

It was observed from the 10th standard tuitions that these children were quite weak particularly in Mathematics and English and most of the students used to get failed mostly in these two subjects. So Prabuddha Vidyabhavan focus mostly on English and Mathematics right from the 1st standard (the English subject used to be there from the 5th standard at that time). This helped the students in building a strong foundation in English until they reach 5th standard.

From 1999 English Antakshari Competitions were conducted within the students from 5th to 7th standard from various schools of Phaltan city. These competitions were conducted continuously for 12 years and for 12 consecutive years we ‘Prabuddha’ students won at the first place in these competitions. From 2004 the school got the first rank in the tehsil level English competition for 7 consecutive years. This definitely shook those heads which have been thinking that these children were useless in studies.

Today ‘Prabuddha’ students are considered quite progressive in all subjects including English and Maths. The school that was started off in a cowshed, even after 27 years, unfortunately is still being conducted under a metal sheet shed. The students are still from marginalized section of society. As the parents of these children are poor, the school does not charge any fees to them. There is no grant yet for the 5th to 7th standard.

There was a teacher’s conference at ‘Prabuddha’, with teachers from all over the Phaltan schools. All the teachers had appreciated the progress of ‘Prabuddha’ students. Especially that particular teacher who had given remarks as ‘good for nothing’ and ‘utterly useless’ to our students, was unreservedly appreciating the school and the students.

No student is useless. It is not that they don’t understand, but first we need to take the education to the level of their understanding.

Establishing any organization, association, or circle is a very simple and easy task. But it is very difficult to nurture and sustain it for a long time and work consistently towards the goal.

A meeting was held on June 2, 1990. To reduce superstition, addiction in the society, to spread education, the Board was set up to spread the ideas of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar in the society.

Year 2022 marks the 31st anniversary of the organisation. During these three decades, the Board has carried out continuous programs in line with its goals and objectives.

Accordingly, 50 paise to 1 rupee from small vendors in the society and 10 to 50 rupees per month from the employees were asked as contribution. It received a good response. In the three years from 1990 to 1993, an average of Rs. 1400 / - was collected every month.

The program was funded according to financial planning. Through this, programs on the occasion of Ambedkar Day special, free SSC/ 10th classes, 2 kindergartens, 2-year student hostel were started. Prabodha Vidya Bhavana School was started in 1993.

Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Vichar Prasarak Mandal is the only board which runs the Register Board, Government Recognized School, Kindergartens and Hostel and has held hundreds of programs of Babasaheb's thought and the Dhamma Chakra Pravartan Golden Festival 2005.

The only reason for the success of Dr.Babasaheb Ambedkar Vichar Prasarak Mandal is the regular program of Babasaheb's thoughts, and the cooperation of the people.