The Shikshan Prasarak Mandali, Pune, is one of the most prestigious private educational societies in Maharashtra. It was established in 1883 to promote education and make it easily accessable to all economic classes in Maharashtra.
Marathi Shikshana Prasaraka Mandali, now known as Shikshana Prasaraka Mandali, was registered as a Society in February 1898. It was a positive way of responding to the growing awareness of the importance of higher education and urgent needs of the society. The founding members were primary teachers – Shri. K.B. Dongre, R.G.Deo, D.S. Karambelkar and R.B. Kulkarni.
The New Poona College, today known as Sir Parshurambhau College was founded in 1916 at the hands of well known British Governor Lord Willingdon, who took a lot of interest in education. The inspiration came from no less a person than Honorable Shri. Vishnushastri Chiplunkar, who had a sincere desire to serve the country through education.
In the beginning, with the main objective to ‘impart education through Marathi’, the S.P.Mandali Educational Trust had the following objectives :
1.The spread of education 2.Making available education at lower cost 3.Starting private schools in different places 4.Promoting Marathi language and higher education through Marathi
Vishnushastri Chiplunkar, Lokmanya Tilak, Gopalkrishna Gokhale, N. C. Kelkar and M. M. Datto Vaman Potdar were closely associated with its rapid growth and development.
It now runs more than 40 educational institutions in Maharashtra like Sir Parshurambhau College,Ramnarain Ruia College, Welingkar Institute, Podar College, Naralkar Institute, K.P. Mangalwedhekar Institute, SPM English medium Schools & NMV or Nutan Marathi Vidyalaya High School & Jr. College as well as Haribhai Devkaran High School and Junior College.
The governing council has among its members the Chairman of the Managing Council of the SPM,Vice Chairman,the Secretary and a few members elected according to the Constitution of the SPM .