GANGULI SARASWATI VIDYALAYA SCHOOL ASSOCIATION (REGD.) GANGOLLI,

UDUPI DISTRICT, KARNATAKA STATE – 576216, BHARAT

न हि ज्ञानेन सदृशं – Bhagavad Gita
ज्ञानादेव कैवल्यम्: – Kaivalyopanishad
विद्यामंदिर ज्ञानदेगुलः – Subhashita

Gangolli is a unique geographical area where five rivers named Sowparnika, Varahi, Chakra, Kheta and Kubja flow perennially and join together forming an estuary “Panchagangavali” and gets its communion with Arabian Sea. Here native Gouda Saraswat Brahmin (GSB) community families joined together to form and start Saraswati Vidyalaya Elementary School in 1892 as published in the British Govt. Gazette Notification of the Port Saint George dated 1-11-1892. 1 – 5th Standard Primary School was started, by two prominent Gouda Saraswat Brahmin Samaja Families i.e., Gujjadi Nayak & Nagar Nayak Families. Sri Nagar Subraya Manjappa Nayak & Sri Gujjadi Nagappa Timmappa Nayak were the founding fathers of the institution. The School was given permission to start 6th standard by British Govt. as per order No.- D5/74/DEL/Dated 26-12-1928. The School was upgraded to have Higher Primary School Section as per Govt. Order D/617/49/16-11-1949.

Sri Nagar Subraya Manjappa Nayak, Sri G Nagappa Timmappa Nayak, Sri B Manjunath Nagappa Shanubgah, Sri B Narayana Annappa Pai and Sri Sunkeri Ramachandra Venkatesh Pai jointly bought 83 cents land from Janab Haji Ali Saheb on 3-6-1909, using “DHARMAVU FUND” earmarked from their businesses. Other community members too contributed. Sri Gujjadi Marthappa Nayak was the Manager of the Committee. After his demise in 1931, his illustrious son Sri G Surendranath Nayak took over the mantle of the institution. With efficient and progressive management, needs and benefits of education were realized by the community. High School education was the privilege of very few persons (boys) at Government Board High School, Kundapura (Estd: 1887). Our forefathers and elders being visionaries realized that Education Alone was basic need of different sections of local and regional population that will flower the hidden treasure in everyone. Moreover, Girl education was almost non-existent at that time. It was felt essential to have a High School locally so that “VIDYADHARA” would flourish and nourish every house. They energized themselves into further activity. They formed THE GANGULI SARASWATI VIDYALAYA SCHOOL ASSOCIATION (G S V S ASSOCIATION) registered on 14/04/1937 under the Societies Registration Act of 1860 (No. – 30 of 1937-1938). Under the leadership & guidance of Sri H. Laxminarayan Kamath, scholarly elite of the period this registered society took over the school management.

The First Managing Committee of G S V S Association:

  1. Hattiyangadi Laxminarayan Kamath – President
  2. Bailur Ramarao Shanbhag – Correspondent
  3. Gujjadi Surendranath Nayak – Manager
  4. Hattiyangadi Ramakrishna Kamath – Treasurer
  5. Mel Ganguli Vasudev Ramakrishna Nayak – Member
  6. Nagar Mudalagiri Nayak – Member
  7. Nagar Govindraya Nayak – Member
  8. Gujjadi Balakrishna Sheshagiri Nayak – Member
  9. Nagar Madhusudhan Nayak – Member
  10. M G Vittal Nayak – Member

As per our icon Sri. Bailur Ramarao Shanbhag speech on the occasion of Silver Jubilee Celebration Function held in 15-03-1971-

Year 1944 the association members felt the need of starting a High School in Ganguli. At that time in Ganguli there were hardly half a dozen persons (only boys) who have passed in the SSLC examination and the condition in other areas was worse. The only High School in this taluk was the Board High School Coondapur to study where students have to cross the board Ganguli ferry. So a good number of students preferred to stay away from studies. Young people were thus deprived of many avenues of occupation. Neither the government nor the District Board would start a High School because of financial stringency. The members of managing committee at a meeting held in February 1945 at Panchagangavali seashore, decided to start Saraswati Vidyalaya High School. It was great challenge to provide place and required financial security to Education Department. The enthusiasm and urgency demanded action forthwith; it was decided to build a thatched roof classroom in the precincts of S V Elementary School. Sri B.Ramarao Shanbhag and Sri H Bhasker Kamath went to Udupi to consult Sri. K Vittal Shenoy, B.A.L.T an Assistant teacher of Board High School, Udupi for getting required teaching staff. On his advice they visited Mangalore to consult with Sri. V S Kudva, MD, C.P.C Co. Ltd. As per his guidance Sri Gangolli Raghavendra Shenoy (G R Shenoy), M.A.L.T was requested to lead our School in education. Sri G R Shenoy was himself an old student of S V Elementary School, Ganguli. His illustrious career consisted of MA from Bombay University (1926), Teachers Training Course at Saidapet (1931), Teacher in Karnataka High School, Dharwad & Teacher in Canara High School, Mangalore. Canara High School Management was pleased to lease Sri G R Shenoy’s service to us for 10 years. This was the most divine Blessing of Goddess Saraswati, as his services laid solid foundation in the uplift of quality education & scientific approach in the management.

Early in June 1945 under the leadership of Sri M G Vasudev R Nayak temporary thatched roof shed was built. On 20-6-1945 at 12.38 noon His Holliness Srimad Aanandashram Swamiji of Sri Chitrapur Mutt inaugurated Saraswati Vidyalaya High School in the presence of Trustees & well-wishers. His Holiness Swamiji prayed & blessed for the development of the school.

The first problem tackled by the management was to procure a suitable site for the High School.  The area near Sri Veereshwara Temple called “Veereshwara Bena” was thought to be most suitable place for new high school as it was a flat open ground centrally situated fit for the school. It was considered auspicious to be between two temples and a mosque. Sri Bailur Rama Rao and Sri G Surendranath Nayak visited far away Cochin and divinely inspired Sri Sagri Vasudeva Nayak to donate the said land. Being a successful businessman and benevolent, he agreed to donate 3.04 acres to school, with the mulageni amount to be paid to Shree Pete Vittal Rakumayi Temple,Ganguli. An adjacent area of 1.70 Acre was donated in a similar way by Sri Halsanadu Sadashivayya, a prominent land lord of Halsnad. 40 cents in continuation thereof near the Vireshwara Temple was donated by Sri Gujjadi Balakrishna Sheshagiri Nayak a member of the managing committee. In 1953 a land piece 40 cents on the western side was accquired. Another plot on the western roadside, near Jatka Katte 70 cents in extent was purchased and the amount for this purchase was donated by Sri. Raghuram Prabhu, Mangalore Ganesh Beedi Works, Mysore for Girls playground.

The foundations of the first wing of 6 rooms (21ft*23ft) were laid by Sri. H Laxminarayana Kamath on 21-12-1945 in the presence of Trustees & well-wishers. This building was declared open on 02-10-1946 by His Holiness Srimad Sudhindra Thertha Swamiji then Junior Swamiji of Sri Samsthana Kashi Mutt.

The students appeared for the SSLC examination for the first time in March 1949. More classrooms were found necessary to house the growing students. The foundation stone for the building was laid in January 1948. The building consisted of a big room in the east of the laboratory and attached to it a hall (90ft*30ft) and 2 rooms for offices in the west. An open stage was attached to this building. The whole project was completed at a cost of Rs.75, 000.00. The Madras Govt. allotted Rs.24, 368.00 as building grant. Sri. K S Shanbhogue of Bombay donated Rs.6, 000.00 for the hall to be named as Bhavani Sheshagiri Memorial Hall.

FUND RAISING:

Fund was required for the building and furniture, to build up a small reserve fund, to meet the heavy annual deficits. A target of a lakh rupee was kept in view. The collection drive began with a visit to partagali in 1947 to seek blessings of His Holiness Srimad Dwarakanath Thirtha Swamiji of Sri Gokarna Partagali Jeevottam Mutt. On 27-11-1947 His Holiness graced the school by visit. In his reply His Holiness remembered pleasant memories of his early life in Ganguli and of the elementary school where he got his early education. His Holiness Swamiji donated Rs.3, 000.00 and the library hall named after his holiness. The Managing Committee members travelled widely to Bombay, Cochin, Madras, Hyderabad, Hubballi, Dharwad, Mangalore, Udupi, Kundapura and local areas to collect cash donations where the response to their appeal for funds received unstinted support.

MAJOR DONORS:

  1. Old Student His Holiness Srimad Dwarakanath Teerth Vader Swamiji of Shree Samsthana Gokarna Parthgali Jeevottam Matha, Goa donated Rs 3, 000.00 and school library was named as “Sri Srimad Dwarakanath Swamiji Library Hall”.
  2. ” Bhavani Sheshagiri Memorial Hall ” donated by Sri. K S Shanbhag ,Mumbai Rs 6, 000.00

CLASS ROOM DONORS:  (Rs 1, 500.00)

  1. Bola Narasimha Kamath, Bombay.
  2. Kodi Narahari Kini, Bombay.
  3. Vaman S Kudva, Mangalore.
  4. Dr Senapura Vaman Acharya Memorial Room donated by Smt. Vinaya Pai & Smt. Hemalata Rao.
  5. M Madhav Subraya Pai Memorial Room donated by Sri. M Panduranga Pai & Brothers, Ganguli
  6. Uppinakudru Narayana Pai Memorial by Sri. Late. U Narasimha Pai & Brothers, Ganguli
  7. Madras Govt. donated Rs 24,368.00 being half cost of Assembly Hall.

Benevolent large hearted Land donors to our schools:

  1. Nagar Subraya Manjappa Nayak, Sri. G Nagappa Timmappa Nayak, Sri. B Manjunath Nagappa Shanbhag, Sri. B Narayana Annappa Pai and Sri. Sunkeri Ramachandra Venkatesh Pai jointly bought the 83 cents land from Sri. Haji Ali Saheb on 03-06-1909 using Dharmavu Fund of Bhansales.
  2. Halsnad Sadashivayya S/o Halsnad Ramapayya donated 1.78 Acres land on 19-03-1947 and the moolageni of the land Rs.42.00 will be used for giving scholarship every year.
  3. Gujjadi Balakrishna Sheshagiri Nayak donated 40 cents land on 13-07-1948 and the moolageni of the land would be used for giving best student award for 5 & 6 Standard students in fond memory of Sri. Gujjadi Sheshagiri Ganapayya Nayak.
  4. Sagri Vasudeva Rangappa Nayak, Cochin donated 3.04 Acres land on 05-11-1948 and the moolageni of the land Rs.72.70 of which Rs.36.70 will be used for giving scholarship to high school students and Rs.36.00 will be given to Sri Vitthala Rakumayi temple for Sri Ananth Chathurthi seva.
  5. 63 cents land was purchased from Sri. Sagri Vasudeva Rangappa Nayak for Rs.700.00 on 15-06-1956.
  6. 27 cents land was acquired and handed over by Government to G S V S Association 26-05-1962.
  7. 16 cents of land was purchased from Smt. Sundari Bai W/o Laxminarayana yane Cherdappa Kamath and children Smt. Laxmidevi Prabhu and Smt. Sumana Bai on 04/12/1976.
  8. Raghuram Prabhu of Mangalore Ganesh Beedi donated through Bailoor Narayana Manjunath Shenoy and Sri. H Bhaskar Laxminarayana Kamath jointly 31 Cents of land on 06-03-1979.
  9. Nagar Madhusudan Nayak & Childrens donated .0925 cents land to Saraswati Vidyalaya Higher Primary School in the year 2011.