About Our University
Our S.N.D.T. Women's University, Mumbai
The Beginning of S.N.D.T. Women's University, Mumbai :
The S.N.D.T Women’s University was founded by Bharat Ratna Maharshi Dhondo Keshav Karve, the bold social reformer who dedicated his life to the advancement of Indian women. In 1896, he started an ashram at Hingne, near Pune for widows and other helpless women, despite opposition and with very meager resources he started a simple programme of schooling for the ashram inmates because he firmly believed that it was only through education that they could be made self reliant and free.
The Dream
A Turning Point
The turning point came when Sir Vithaldas Thackersey, an eminent industrialist of Mumbai , also deeply committed to the cause of women’s education stepped forward with donation of Rs. 15 Lakhs. The university was named Shrimati Nathibai Damodar Thackersey Women’ University(SNDT) in memory of his mother.In 1936, the university established a campus at Mumbai.
A Distinct Philosophy and Purpose
As the University grew at its campuses at Pune, Mumbai, Shrivardhan, and Chandrapur its philosophy and its distinctive purpose took firm shape as relevant today as they were at the outset to create an atmosphere where girls can blossom in to confident, self reliant, responsible individuals, who can be source of strength to their families and their community.
‘Sanskruta Stree Parashakti’ which means “An Elightened Women is a Source of Infinite Strength.” Guided by this philosophy, the University has developed many special features which make it distinctive and unique. It caters exclusively to women and offers course which are important and relevant to them.
It pioneered the concept of Distance Education several decades ago by allowing distance learners to study privately at home, in the days when the idea of girls attending college was not generally acceptable. Today, it has one of the country’s most reputed programmes in Distance Education, it offers instruction in four Media, English, Gujarati, Hindi and Marathi, In fact from its very inception when most Indian Universities were teaching exclusively in English, SNDT started teaching in Marathi and Gujarati.
The University Today
In 1951 the University acquired statutory recognition .This recognition came along with the rare privilege of jurisdiction across the country. Today the university has campuses at Pune, Churchgate, Juhu, Shrivardhan, and Chandrapur. In addition to the University departments and Constituent colleges/institutions located on all the campuses, it has 234 affiliated colleges in all over India.