Nagpur: Behind the tall doors and old corridors of the Women’s Education Society’s Seminary Hills campus lies a story that began with just 23 students in 1932. Over the years, the institution has grown into an education network of more than 4,000 students, offering courses from preschool to postgraduate level across science, home science, architecture, design and technology.A visit to the campus offered a glimpse of this transition. Heritage buildings with high ceilings and old wooden doors now house laboratories, design studios and classrooms where students study subjects ranging from Cosmetic Technology and Human Development to Hotel Management and Architecture.The society today runs Lady Amritbai Daga College for Women, Smt Ratnidevi Purohit College of Home Science and Home Science Technology, Smt Manoramabai Mundle College of Architecture, Shrinivas Public School and Gokul Balwadi. Away from its professional courses and sprawling campuses, one of its more striking initiatives operates at the preschool level under the name Gokul Balwadi.Gokul Balwadi caters largely to children from economically weaker families living in nearby settlements, including Futala lake and Hazari Pahad. The children are enrolled at a nominal fee and introduced to structured early learning in an environment they may otherwise have struggled to access.The initiative extends beyond educating children. Young women from the same communities, many of whom have completed Class 10, are trained in teaching methods, classroom management and child development before being employed as teachers and support staff. “The idea is to educate not just the child, but also create opportunities for the community around us,” said Nanda Rathi, secretary of WES.Senior-most faculty member Lakshmi Rao said the society’s growth over the past nine decades has been guided by its ability to evolve with changing educational needs while staying committed to women’s education and community development.Beyond Arts, Commerce and Science, WES offers specialised courses in Cosmetic Technology, Human Development, Home Science, Interior Design, Hotel Management, Applied Electronics & Software Technology and Architecture. Dr Nanda Rathi, secretary of WES and manager of Shrinivas Public School, said students also receive practical training in draping, apparel design and garment construction through laboratories, studios and workshops.According to Rathi, graduates from Cosmetic Technology have joined companies including Hindustan Unilever, ITC and Plum, while Applied Electronics students have found placements with TCS, Infosys and Accenture. Interior Design and Hotel Management students have also moved into design firms, hotels, airlines, and cruise companies.The media visit concluded with an interaction with Shrinivas Public School director Varsha Manohar, school management committee member Ravi Meghe, chief administrative officer Harsha Jharia, WES vice-president and Smt Manoramabai Mundle College of Architecture director Avinash Deshmukh, LAD College principal Pooja Pathak, architecture college principal Neeta Lambe, Shrinivas Public School principal Rupali Jalan, WTRI head Dr Ambulkar and event convener Renuka Chutke Chakradeo.
