Gargi - Hostel for working women

 

 

 

With the goal of "empowering women through education" in mind, Bharat Ratna Maharshi Dhondo Keshav Karve (Anna) dedicated his entire life to women's education. Anna viewed women's lives from the perspective of social reforms and was deeply concerned about the harmful traditions in society and their negative impact on women's daily lives. His first major initiative was to open the doors of education for child widows. Naturally, this endeavor faced significant opposition from society at the time. However, driven by self-belief, dedication to his work, and a desire to give meaning to the lives of weak and neglected women, Anna started a small school for girls in Hingane Land, with four child widows, in a small hut 128 years ago. This journey continued relentlessly until the establishment of an independent university for women.

 

The various initiatives Anna undertook, focusing on legislative, developmental, constructive, and struggle-oriented aspects, became the hallmark of his diverse work centered around women's lives. Importantly, while setting up this work, the challenges and obstacles of each decade were tackled with remarkable calm, patience, and maturity, as evidenced by many documents. Today, the institution has 75 branches in Pune, Satara, Wai, Ratnagiri, Nagpur, and Kamshat, where more than 30,000 girls and women are receiving various forms of education, mainly skill-based.

During this period, the mindset and thought processes at both the social and familial levels gradually began to consider the challenges and problems women faced with more empathy. Opposition to women working started to diminish slowly. By the 1960s, women began stepping out of their homes for employment. However, a major issue arose for women coming from rural areas or slums: where would they stay while working? Along with this, there was a growing number of women wishing to join the institution's children’s teaching program, which posed the question of their safe accommodation.

 

Anna foresaw that this could become a significant obstacle to women’s education or employment. In response, he founded the 'Mahila Nivas' (Women's Hostel) in 1953 at Deccan Corner, Pune, to provide housing for working women. Initially, a small hut was used for a few women. In 1960, a four-story, fully equipped building was constructed at the same site with public donations, providing accommodation and meals for 60 women. This hostel has now been newly established in a modern building under the name "Gargi."

 

Priority for admission was always given to women in need, especially those with potential. As the number of working women grew, another branch of the Women's Hostel was opened in 1981 at Natu Bagh in Pune. These two hostels have provided affordable and safe accommodations for working women who came from outside Pune. Today, there are three hostels, ‘Maitreyee,’ ‘Mahila Nivas-Natubag,’ and ‘Gargi,’ providing safe and fully-equipped housing for a large number of women working in Pune.

 

In Pune, women coming for employment often need secure living arrangements with all amenities. ‘Gargi’ Women’s Hostel offers excellent facilities, including safety, well-furnished interiors, attached bathrooms in rooms, meals, and parking. The hostel will begin accepting residents from March 1, 2025. Situated in the heart of Pune, this hostel serves as a second home for women, offering comfort and safety far from home.

 

 

 

---Smt. Smita B. Kulkarni

 

 

Gargi Working Women’s Hostel

Contact: Mrs. Manjusha Daundkar – 8626025057

Email: [email protected]