Swatantrya Sainik Guruvarya
Veer Shankarrao G. Pendharkar
DOB: January 20, 1924
DOD: December 30, 2009

“शिक्षणातून पुनर्रचना - पुनर्रचनेतून शिक्षण” is the Guruvarya's motto...

Through this motto, this played an important role in educating the backward castes and low-income people of Kharepatan Daskroshi. Swatantarya Sainik Guruvarya Veer Shankarao Pendharkar, who was an advocate of mass education, founded Kharepatan Panchkroshi Shikshan Prasarak Mandal, Kharepatan in 1953.

Guruvarya was of socialist ideology. He got so mixed up with the people of Kharepatan Dashakroshi that the entire economically and socially backward society felt it as their own. Because his personality was beyond caste discrimination.Guruvarya was a follower of Shahu, Phule, Ambedkar. That is why his thoughts influenced him. Guruvarya tried to impart the culture of equality and brotherhood to the students in order to inculcate brotherhood and equality among the students while spreading education in the society in this Dashakroshi.Students of different castes and religions lived together in the hostels he ran through this organization, all of them cooked communally with their own hands and ate together.

Guruvarya gave his entire life for the spread of education.Guruvarya is known as an inspirational educationist from Kharepatan Dashakroshi.The people of this Dashakroshi honored him with the title of Ek Dhadhagata Karmayoga.Guruvarya is a precious gem obtained from Kharepatan Dashacroshi.The state government honored Guruvarya by announcing the Adarsh Shikshak Award and the seminar reading honored Guruvarya by announcing the National Award.

Swatantrya Sainik Guruvarya Veer Shankarao Pendharkar was born on 20 January 1924 at Harpude village near Devrukh in Ratnagiri. Although the Guruvarya's situation was hopeless, he left for Mumbai eager to complete his secondary education.

18th October Ratnagiri Jail, 19th October 1940 First appearance in Bombay, Sent to Hindalgya Central Jail in Belgaum district to serve fifteen months of hard labour.In December 1941, participated in the freedom struggle from Bhagalpur area of Bihar and hoisted the flag with baton, 4th January 1942 Arrested under the Defense of India Act (Devarukh Kothdi), solitary confinement which commenced on 13th October 1943 ended in 111 days, 1 year and 3 months' sentence of hard labor on 19-1-44 for absconding from Ratnagiri jail ended on 18th April 1945,

In December 1944 and May 1945 took the Shakh Nayak camps at Devrukh, in the year 1945 during the Diwali vacation, took the Sevadal camp at Angivali, a village near Devrukh, from 1941 to 1947 he risked his life twice for the freedom of the country, served two years of imprisonment, six years of sacrifice of his youth tor contribute for freedom struggle in such a way.

In the academic year 1944-45, he completed his pre-matric studies and passed the examination. June 1947 Completed Bachelor of Arts honors in Inter Arts at Willingdon College, Sangli. Married to Mrs. Vatsalatai Pendharkar on 21 July 1950 in Mumbai.

During the freedom struggle, he got an opportunity to reach the people at the grassroot level, which made him realize that the ignorance and illiteracy of the common people was the cause of injustice. Therefore, the key to living with self-respect and pride is education…To raise the level of the society, it is inevitable to raise the lifestyle and standard of living of the people of every group in the society.Therefore, due to the insistence of famous people of Kharepatan village and to realize the idea that education is indispensable for rural development, he accepted this proposal and Guruvarya came to Kharepatan with her wife Shrimati Vatsalatai Pendharkar.

Guruvarya was moving towards creating the universe from nothingness. In accordance with this, the Guruvarya along with his wife went from house to house and collected the children and started the class. After that, they rented a place and started the eighth class. He tried his best to stabilize the secondary school.With the help of the villagers and philanthropists of this Dashakroshi, he built the grand structure of Sheth Navin Chandra Mafatlal Vidyalaya. Knowing the importance of higher education, the Guruvaryas started a junior college in 1975. Guruvarya cherished the reputation of Shramdana. In line with this, realizing the importance of professional education along with traditional education, in 1989, he also started business courses at two levels.

Guruvarya always did inspiring work. Just like Samai's wick, he burned himself and illuminated the society with the light of his bright work. Such is our inspiration, faith, self-published and student-centric personality who passed away on 30th December 2009 at the age of 86.