Sadhana Education Society
The journey began with establishing the College of Education for Graduate Teachers in July 1962. The decision of opening a teachers training college was taken after taking into consideration the lack of facilities for training teachers for secondary schools which resulted in paucity of trained teachers thus depriving the students of quality trained teachers. The institution was named " The Sadhana School of Education Research and Training ".
Supporting Environment
Sadhana Education Society did not have its own space to start the institute and hence sought help from nearby institutions to provide some space to house the Sadhana School.
Shri Amritlal B Yagnik, a prominent personality in the field of education and Gujarati literature and then Principal of Shri Vile Parle Kelavani Mandal's Mithibai College Vile Parle (West) came to the rescue of the society. Using his good offices and resources at his disposal, he successfully convinced SVKM to spare three rooms from the college premises for Sadhana School for at least a year.
Permission From Mumbai University
Simultaneously, the University of Mumbai granted the school the necessary permission and affiliation to start the courses leading to B.Ed., M.Ed. and the Ph.D. Examinations for a period of two years initially.
The first batch of The Sadhana School of Education, Research and Training comprised of 65 students for the B.Ed. program, 10 students for the M.Ed. program and 13 students for the Ph.D. Program. Dr. Madhuriben Shah Dr. N. N. Shukla and Dr. K S Vakil guided the students.
Veteran educationist who had to their credit professional standings of many number of years lent their honorary services. Dr. Smt. Madhuriben R Shah, Kum. Kapila Khandwala and Dr. M R Vaidya associated themselves with this institute.
During the second year, the Sadhana School was shifted to another place at Ghatkopar in the premises of Sarvodaya Swasthya Sadan where the college continued to function for two years.
Government of Maharashtra
The Sadhana Education Society was fully conscious of the primary requirement of an independent accommodation to suit the needs of the growing college. The Government of Maharashtra was requested to allot a suitable open plot of land for the society to construct building and provide other necessary infrastructure facilities not only for the Sadhana School but for other institutions that the management proposed to open.
In 1964, University of Mumbai (then Bombay) granted permission to admit students for the Diploma in Education (D.Ed.) Course, a part time course particularly meant to train under-graduate teachers for secondary schools. 53 students were admitted to the first batch.
In the year 1963, Shri Vishnuprasad N Desai, then Mayor of Bombay (now Mumbai) and President of Sadhana Education Society used his good offices and got an open plot of free hold rent free land admeasuring 14176 sq. yards for the Society. The Sadhana School moved into its own premises in 1965.
The Sadhana School of Education, Research & Training was renamed as The Sadhana College of Education in the year 1970. To honour the selfless services rendered by Smt. Kapilaben Khandwala who played a pivotal role in the growth and expansion of the college, the Sadhana College of Education was named as Smt. Kapila Khandwala College of Education in 1977.
Guidance and Counselling Centre
The School of Education also established a Guidance and Counselling Centres from the year 1963-64. The centre offers its expert advice to the school children in the vicinity and in Mumbai about career counselling and also about the subjects for study in Secondary Schools and also for selecting courses in future. The centre started with Diagnostic Testing i.e. Educational and Psychological Testing Services and Remedial Teaching Services from the year 1965-66.
The Sadhana Experimental School
Taking into consideration the demands of the residents of the vicinity and the paucity of secondary schools, The Sadhana Education Society started with The Sadhana Experimental School from the year 1965-1966 by admitting students to Standard V and Standard VIII. The medium of instruction of this school was English and Gujarati. The Experimental School was started as a special school where experiments on methodology and problems in Secondary Educations were studies under the guidance of the staff of School of Education. The Experimental School also served as the Practising School of the School of Education. This secondary school became full-fledged Secondary School from the year 1968-69. In the year 1968-69, the Experimental School was named as Sadhana High School. The first batch of SSC students appeared for the SSC Examinations in 1969 and the results were 98%.
Growth of Sadhana Education Society
Taking into consideration, the success and the reputation of the School of Education and of the Experimental School and the growing demand from the residents of Santacruz (west) and its nearby area, Sadhana Education Society started with Sadhana K. G. Classes from 1967-68 and Sadhana Primary School from the year 1968-69 in two mediums English and Gujarati. The primary school started with the First Standard in 1968 with a view to develop into a complete Primary School from Standard I to Standard IV.
By the year 1971-72, the Sadhana Education Society has established the Sadhana College of Education, Sadhana High School, Sadhana Primary School and Sadhana K G Classes. The Sadhana K G Classes was named as Shabnam Balraj K G Classes in the memory of late daughter of Shri Balraj Sahani. The 2nd Floor of the building was constructed and ready by 1972. Thus the present structure of the building housing the School of Education and the 3 schools was realised in 1972.
The Sadhana Junior College was established in the year 1976-1977 with one division of Commerce to cater to the needs of the student's community at large and on the request from the Education Department.
Quality Education
Having established the Pre-Primary School and K G Classes, Primary School, High School and the B.Ed. College and taking into consideration the quality Education offered by these institutes at affordable rates, there was a growing demand from the parents and the students in the vicinity about Arts, Science and Commerce College catering to their needs.
Degree College of Arts and Science
After taking into consideration the need of the parents and the students and the demand of the hour, the management of Sadhana Education Society decided to start a Degree College of Arts and Science and accordingly applied to the University of Mumbai (then Bombay) and Government of Maharashtra to start a degree college.
Mr. G L Raheja & Mr. C L Raheja
Mr. G L Raheja & Mr. C L Raheja donated Rs. 35, 00,000 (Rupees Thirty Five lakhs) towards the construction of the Sadhana Education Society's new Arts and Commerce College Building. The Society decided to name the College of Arts and Commerce as "Sadhana Education Society's L S Raheja College of Arts & Commerce".
The L S Raheja College of Arts and Commerce was established in the year 1980. Taking into considerations the space and other resources, it was decided to start with the Commerce Faculty and then gradually add the Arts Faculty also. 175 students were admitted to the two (02) division of the F.Y.B.Com. Class in the first year of inception in June 1980 with 8 faculties including the Principal.
The names of the various institutions were revised in the year 1981. The revised names of the institutions were: a. The Sadhana Education Society's L S Raheja College of Arts & Commerce b. The Sadhana Education Society's Harshul - Prerana Secondary School c. The Sadhana Education Society's Punya - Stuti Primary School and Shabnam Bajaj Kinder Garden
The College started with the Arts Faculty in the year 1982 with admissions of 49 students in the First Year B.A. Classes. It was also decided to construct a new building for the Arts and Commerce College.
Sadhana Education Society celebrated its silver jubilee in the year 1985-1986. During the last 25 years, the Society which started with a B.Ed. College with 65 students now runs Eight Institutions with overall enrolment of 3800 students. This would not have been possible but for the support, guidance and encouragement of our donors, well wishers, members of the Management and vision and selfless efforts the office bearers.
Master of Management Studies
Taking into consideration the growing demand for professional courses in Management, the Society established "The Institute of Management Studies and Research" in its Silver Jubilee year 1985 offering courses leading to the Degree in Master of Management Studies (M.M.S.) program. The Junior College which was all along attached to the High School was attached to the Degree College L S Raheja College of Arts & Commerce.
In the year 1986-87, The Sadhana Education Society started a new institute " The Malti Jayant Dalal Institute for Pre-Primary Teachers Training Programme " thereby fulfilling a long felt want and demand from the citizens in the nearby area specifically the citizens of western suburbs. The first batch comprised of 30 students. L S Raheja College of Arts and Commerce, Degree College and Junior College both, were shifted and housed in their own new building.
On account of princely spontaneous donation from the Malti Jayant Dalal Charitable trusts, ardent supporters of Sadhana Education Society from its inception, the Secondary, Primary and the Nursery School were renamed as under in 1987-88.
a. Malti Jayant Dalal High School - Secondary Section
b. Malti Jayant Dalal High School - Primary Section
c. Malti Jayant Dalal Nursery School & Shabnam Balraj K G Classes.
Silver Jubilee Year Fund
Smt. Kapila Khandwala College of Education celebrated the year 1987-88 as the Silver Jubilee Year which was celebrated with lots of fun and gratitude to all those who helped the institution to grow and progress as also to those who served the institute for number of years and were instrumental for its name and fame. A "Silver Jubilee Year Fund" of Rs. 15,000 was also created by the students and the faculty members which will be used to provide financial assistance to the needy and deserving students.
M.Com. & Ph.D. Degree Started
L S Raheja College of Arts and Commerce were recognised by University of Mumbai as centres for M.Com. (By Research) and Ph.D. Degree in Commerce - Business Policy and Administration in the year 1987-88, thereby recognising the academic achievements and academic infrastructure and expertise available in the college in view of the experienced and qualified faculties.
Having served the needs and aspirations of the students and citizens in the vicinity for around 29 years by establishing institutes offering education from pre-primary to Doctoral programs, the members at Sadhana Education Society with generous donations from Malti Jayant Dalal Charitable Trust established " Malti Jayant Dalal Centre for Integrated Education " for the hearing impaired children and slow learners. The Society hopes to develop this new institute into an Ideal and caring centre which will ensure that the differently-abled children grow into capable and employable citizens of the country. The centre was established in the year 1988-89 with admission of 14 students.
Diploma in Early Childhood Care and Education
Sadhana Education Society's "Malti Jayant Dalal College of Pre-Primary Teacher's Education" established in 1986 was affiliated to University of Mumbai (then Bombay) in the year 1988-89 and now offers the Diploma in Early Childhood Care and Education. 40 students were selected and admitted in the first batch.
The growing concept and ideas of parent to educate their wards in English Medium school led to reducing the number of students in the vernacular medium schools. At Sadhana Education Society, we also faced a similar situation of observing reduction in the number of students being admitted to the Gujarati medium school both at the primary and the secondary school. Since the number of students in the various classes of primary section fell below the minimum requirement, it was decided to gradually close the gujarati medium school and simultaneously increase the divisions for the English medium school. In the primary section, no student was admitted to the Ist standard in the year 1994-95.
The Gujarati Section in the Primary School closed in the year 1998-99. In the secondary section no student was admitted to the Vth standard in the year 1998-99
In the year 1999-2000, University of Mumbai, after taking into views and opinion of the students, employers and other experts from the industries, decided to introduce 3 years undergraduate programs based on the requirement of the industry. The objective of introducing these programs was to make the students employable and equip the students with skills and knowledge required by the Industry. One of the programs was Bachelor of Management Studies i.e. B.M.S.. L S Raheja College was one amongst the first few colleges which offered this course to the students. These were Unaided courses or Self Financing Courses. 45 students were admitted to the first year of BMS Course.
M.J.Dalal Centre for Gems and Gemmology
After taking into consideration that growing markets for precious stones and gems and the lack of skilled manpower, Sadhana Education Society established the M.J.Dalal Centre for Gems and Gemmology with the objective to make available trained and qualified manpower. The year 1999-2000 saw the closure of the Malti Centre for Integrated Education.
In the year 2001-2002, University of Mumbai decided to discontinue the one year Diploma Program in Early Childhood Care and Education. However at Sadhana Education Society, the one year diploma program in "Early childhood Care and Education (E.C.C.E.)" was offered as an autonomous course.
L S Raheja College of Arts and Commerce expanded the bouquet of courses offered by introducing the Post Graduate Program in Commerce i.e. Masters of Commerce from the year 2002-2003. 60 students were admitted to the first year i.e. Part I of the M.Com. Program. UGC introduced the concept of rating or accreditation of college by National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), Bangalore, an autonomous body of UGC. Both the degree colleges, Smt. Kapila Khandwala College of Education and L S Raheja College of Arts and Commerce were accredited with grade A by NAAC with a score of 88% and 88.15% respectively. This was, indeed, a proud moment for all at Sadhana for the certificate of excellence issued by an independent national body.
Bachelor of Mass Media (B.M.M.) an unaided 3 year undergraduate degree course introduced by University of Mumbai was offered to the students of L S Raheja College from the year 2004-2005. LSRC was amongst the few colleges which applied for affiliation to the University and sought permission from the Government to introduce the BMM Course in its year of inception. 60 students took admission to the first year of the BMM program.
In the year 2006-2007, L S Raheja College of Arts and Commerce expanded the list of course offered by it by introducing the following 3 years undergraduate, Diploma and certificate programs offered by the UGC / University of Mumbai after seeking due permission from the Government and other authorities as required. a. Bachelor of Commerce (Accountancy & Finance) (B.A.F.) b. Bachelor of Commerce (Banking & Insurance) (B.B.I.) c. T.Y.B.A. with specialisation in Psychology d. Certificate Course in Language Proficiency (CLF) in English e. Certificate Course in Travel and Tourism (CTT) f. Certificate Course in Agriculture and Horticulture Management (CAHM) g. Diploma Course in Mass Media in Journalism (DMMJ)
In the year 2007-2008, L S Raheja College offered the 3 year undergraduate unaided program Bachelor of Science (Information Technology), affiliated to University of Mumbai, to the students. The program was well received by the students and 60 students were admitted to the first batch. In the year 2007-2008, L S Raheja College offered the 3 year undergraduate unaided program, offered by the University of Mumbai, Bachelor of Commerce (Financial Markets) to the students. The program was well received by the students and 59 students were admitted to the first batch.
The last batch for the autonomous course of ECCE was admitted in the year 2010-2011.
Smt. Kapila Khandwala College of Education, celebrated 2011-2012 as the Golden Jubilee Year of its establishment. Many cultural, academic and other programs were conducted during the year which culminated in a fund raising program at Bhaidas Hall, release of books authored by the faculty of the college and cultural program.