NAGPUR, DEC 7: Vishnu Govind alias Bhausaheb Somalwar, renowned educationist and founder of the Somalwar Education Society, passed away at his Ramdaspeth residence here this evening. He was 87.A pioneer in the field of education in Vidarbha region, Bhausaheb was the guiding spirit behind the meteoric rise of Somalwar Education Society which runs a chain of academic institutions in the city, including the prestigious Somalwar School branches at Ramdaspeth, NEERI and Khamla and the Nikalas Mahila Mahavidyalaya. Bhausaheb had not been keeping well for the past one month.Born on July 29, 1913, Bhausaheb did his graduation in science in 1936. He made a humble beginning by assisting his father in his private coaching classes, run for Xth standard students. After graduation, he worked asa teacher for a year with the Government High School at Akola before starting his own school in August 1939 at Ghatate building in Dhantoli.Soon, his institutions earned name and reputation throughout the region anddeveloped into academic establishments providing education from primary to junior college levels. For long, these institutions have acquired prestige and recognition for churning out bright and meritorious students year after year. A reputation that remains unchallenged.In 1996, Bhausaheb got his dream of setting up a women's college realised by establishing the Nikalas Mahila Mahavidyalaya at Khamla.He was a prominent member of the Nagpur Head Masters' Association for several years and was the secretary of the Nagpur Games and Cultural Association, a semi-government body devoted to physical and cultural activities of academic institutions in Nagpur, Wardha, Chandrapur and Bhandara districts.Bhausaheb was the sole representative of Vidarbha on the committee formed for the introduction of the prevailing 10 plus 2 plus 3 pattern of education as recommended by the Kothari Commission. He was a member of the English Committee of the erstwhile Vidarbha Board of Secondary Education and was also nominated onthe board of studies of English of Nagpur University. Bhausaheb has authored text books in chemistry for standards eighth to tenth which were prescribed by the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary Education.He was also a Governor of the Maharashtra Text Book Bureau and a recipient of President's medal at the hands of the then President Dr S Radhakrishnan in 1963. He retired as Head Master of Somalwar High School in 1976 but continued in capacity of President and Secretary of the Education Society at different intervals.An ardent follower of Hindu scriptures, Bhausaheb is also credited for English translation of Dnyaneshwar's Amrutanubhava and Changdev Pashashti. He was a follower of Sant Nikalas Maharaj after whom Bhausaheb named the Somalwar School branch at Khamla and the women's college. Younger brother Manoharrao helped Bhausaheb in all his activities.
