GES Group
Gondia Education Society was founded by Great Philanthropist, social worker and a true Gandhian Late Shri Manoharbhai Patel in the year 1958. After the days of British Raj, India needed to develop in all fronts.
At this juncture, Gandhiji invited people with good economic standing like industrialists to be the custodian of the society and to spend their money for the welfare of the society in particular and nation in general because he believed, “Education should be so revolutionized as to answer the wants of the poorest villager, instead of answering those of an imperial exploiter.” Late Shri Manoharbhai Patel, being a true Gandhian joined this noble adventure of nation building with his few trusted friends and decided to spread education among the poorest of the poor of east Vidarbha Region.
Literacy and education were not the priority of the British Raj as their sole focus was to hold on to their colony, India, the jewel in the Crown. Most of the districts of India were suffering for want of mere basic amenities. Bhandara was also one of those districts worst affected.
Together, we are an ocean.
A few resurgent people led by Late Shri Manoharbhai Patel, a wealthy and well known businessman and a philanthropist, came forward to set up the second school in Gondia town in the district with help coming from his friends. It was in that period the concept of Gondia Education Society was mooted and later the Society came into existence. In the ensuing six years many more primary and secondary schools were set up one by one. In a short span of ten years and by 1961 Gondia Education Society could establish 22 high schools spread across the district and in the same year two more colleges were also established.
One great act that would speak volumes as to how much Late Shri Manoharbhai and his friends were devoted to the noble cause they all espoused and assiduously pursued was transferring all educational institutions founded by Gondia Education Society to the local ZillaParishad (District Council). It required a grand vision to think in terms of setting a grand and a glorious precedent in public service.
The noble work started by Late Shri Manoharbhai Patel has been carried forward with equal zeal and devotion by his son, Honorable Shri Praful Patel. In a short span of time, the districts of East Vidarbha have seen a surge in schools, junior colleges and higher education institutions in the fields of Arts, Commerce, Science, Law, Management, Engineering and Technology and Pharmacy under the guidance of Honorable Shri Praful Patel. Honorable Patel understood the need of changing world and insisted that the students should set higher goals rather than searching for petty jobs. Meeting the demands of 21st century, Honorable Shri Praful Patel brought a sea change in the infrastructure of these colleges. Affordable education with best of the modern and sophisticated infrastructure for masses has been his motto.
Honorable Shri Praful Patel has been Member of Parliament and Member of Rajyasabha for last three consecutively terms and has held important portfolios during UPA government. As Honorable Shri Praful Patel has been busy in national political affairs the responsibility of Gondia Education Society passed on to Honorable Smt. Varsha Patel, the president of GES. At present Hon’ble Smt. Varsha Patel, Hon’ble Shri Rajendra Jain, Secretary GES and Hon’ble Shri Nikhil Jain, Director GES are leaving no stone unturned to substantiate the vision of Late Shri Manoharbhai Patel and Hon’ble Shri Praful Patel.
