Youth Mobilisation
Students of JP and the members of Youth wing had an exposure of dealing of Cracker sale. Door to Door sale, sale on the stalls and sale by moving centres was made. At Ganesh Festival, presentation of "Barchi" in the procession was a good event for Maharana Pratap Dal. Dal is an activity conducted every evening where sports activities are carried out throughout the year. A personality development camp and a trip to Fort 'Torna', were arranged by Youth workers of Yesaji Kanka Dal of Dapode, in Velhe taluka.
Yuvati Vibhag - A camp to study 'Making of modern India' was organised for the students of 11th std. A study tour to R&DE, Dighi was conducted. In Apr.99, a science study camp was organised for the students of 8th and 9th Standard of Jnana Prabodhini Prashala. In September 99, ceremonies of Enshrining of Shri Ganesh were conducted at 5 places. "Barchi" was demonstrated at 7 places including 'Mandai Ganapati' and 'Kasaba Ganapati'. In Oct. 98, 1200 sets of Diwali Greetings were sold on experimental basis. In Oct. 99, 3500 sets were sold. In Feb. 2000, the students of Lilawati Dal won the Kho-Kho trophy in interschool sports competition held by Pune Girls' Schools Sports Association. For the last 2-3 years, yuvati members have been invited to train the organisers of 'Nagar Vasti Vikas Upakram' In Jan 99, a Barchi competition was held and Yuvati members were invited as Judges. In Sep. 99, as a part of Ganesh festival activities, Barchi was presented at 3 places.
In the last 8 years, JP Alumni Association has helped the past students to develop and strengthen mutual ties and has generated a knowledge and financial resource for the mother organisation. There are many endeavours where past students have come together to realize some dream and vision. Notable ef forts of joining hands are Prabodhan Infosystems Private limited + Jopasana + Seed Enterprise, Gangotri group; Sanjeevan Hospital of Jnana Prabodhini Medical Trust and the good old Prabodh Samuha. Many others have made Jnana Prabodhini and its founder La t e Shri. Appa Pendse's vision as their Life Mission. Many are on the ascending path of their career and are contributing financially to JP. Of course, a few are totally out of touch and lost. In the last year, a data base of over 1000 past students from 1 964 to 1993 batches, was prepared and made available on a floppy. This year a website jpalumni.com will be launched to have an easily accessible and detailed database.
In 1999-2000, the centre was running one batch for UPSC, two batches for MPSC, one batch for NDA entrance and one for NTSE in Pune.
Extension Centres - In 1999-2000, four extention centres were started at various places like Latur, Ambajogai, Solapur, Sangli. The facility of a good library consisting of sufficient books for UPSC, MPSC, NDA and NTSE examinations has been made available at these centres. Teachers and senior students from Pune visited these places fort- nightly for guidance. All these centres are sponsored by GDK Memorial Charitable T rust, Mumbai.
Subsidised residential facility - Every year the response from all over Maharashtra is increasing. It has been seen that the students face a lot of difficulties to reside at Pune. So a subsidised hostel facility for limited number of studen ts has been made available at Pune. This activity is also sponsored by GDK Memorial Charitable Trust.
GDK sponsored state level Awards - Last year an award for the student ranking first in Maharashtra in UPSC exam was started. Shri. Niranjan Wayangankar was honoured at the hands of Shri Paramanand Sawant (Retd. Dy. Commissioner) for standing first in the 1998 exam at the time of Varshant ceremony in April 99. He was awarded with a certificate and Rs. 5,000/-. Two students Mr. Rahul Nangre and Mr. Vilas Shinde have cleared this exam and got IRS posts. Eight students of MPSC exam have been selected on Deputy Collector and other block level posts. Cash prize of Rs. 1,000/- was also given to all these students.
The special ceremony of mounting the pinnacles on the completed temple of knowledge on 20th August and the beginning of the construction of the rural residential school in an earthquake striken village are the salient features of this period. A deep impression was left on all those who were present for the Kalsharopan Samaroha (ceremony of mounting the pinnacles on the building) on August 20. Prayers from all religions were sung on this auspicious occasion and holy scriptures from all religions were worshippe d at the hands of the representatives of the respective religions. The golden pinnacles stand for various ways of worship, leading to the same Truth. Revered Swami Peetambaranandji Maharaj, head of the Ramkrishna Math at Chandigarh and honourable Home Minister Shri L.K. Advani were the chief guests of the function who worshipped the main pinnacle. Both the chief guests made enlightening speeches emphasizing the harmony of spiritual trends in India and importance of man-making and character-building education.
The old school building of Balvikas Mandir has been renovated to match the new building. Smt. Avantikabai Kelkar had handed over Balvikas Mandir, a primary school of quality to Jnana Prabodhini. She saw her offspring blossoming in a number of direction s and making a name for itself in the field of education during the last 11 years. On 19th February 2000, Smt. Avantikabai Kelkar breathed her last with deep satisfaction in her mind. JPS pays homage to her invincible spirit and uncompromizing grit and s hares the pain of separation with Shri. Janubhau Kelkar. In January 1999 and January 2000, the students from 9th class had a winter camp where they had an experience of living in tents, rifle-shooting and horse-riding . Every year after Diwali a meditation-Satsang camp is organized in JPS. The theme for 1998 was Sant Tukaram. The camp was held from 31 st October to 3rd November 1998.
Gram Prabodhini is a trust formed jointly by Rotary Club of Pune North and Jnan a Prabodhini to work for rural development through education. Various subjects such as farming, animal husbandry, health, cultural activities, technical guidance and training of are being handled by this trust in various villages around Salumbre, Dist. Pune.
