Our History

Seva Sadan in

1908

Seva Sadan Society was founded in Mumbai to provide oppressed women with shelter, care, and a life of dignity.

Seva Sadan in

1914

Pandita Ramabai Navrange Teachers’ Training College was established as the first step towards empowering women to be employable.

Seva Sadan in

1924

Malabari Hall was inaugurated.

Seva Sadan in

1940

Tiffin service was started to instil a sense of self-worth in the women staying at Seva Sadan, who would cook food and run a neighbourhood meal service.

Seva Sadan in

1944

Marathi Primary School was established to educate underprivileged girls.

Seva Sadan in

1950

Laundry service, run by the residents of the Home, was introduced.

Seva Sadan in

1960

Marathi High School was started, allowing Seva Sadan’s education initiative to impact a larger age group of girls.

Seva Sadan in

1970

Vocational Training was introduced with sewing, typing, and shorthand classes to teach women skills that would help them gain employment.

Seva Sadan in

2000

Self-financed Pre-Primary Marathi School was started to promote early childhood education.

Seva Sadan in

2002

Aahaar, a café serving home-cooked local food, was inaugurated to provide employment to low-income ladies of the community.

Seva Sadan in

2008

• Major repairs, initiated to the structurally unsound Seva Sadan Annexe (that housed the Primary Marathi School), were completed in our
  Centenary Year, 2008.
• Our self-funded, co-educational English Pre-Primary and Primary School for low-income children was also established in our Centenary Year.
• Women’s Self-Sufficiency initiative was introduced. By The Way, a contemporary, air-conditioned restaurant was launched on Seva Sadan’s premises to provide on-the-job hospitality training to our resident girls.

Seva Sadan in

2009

Vocational training for beauty treatments, mehndi application, and tailoring classes was introduced.

Seva Sadan in

2014

The decrepit structure adjoining the Seva Sadan Annexe was repaired and rebuilt to accommodate three more classes of the English School as the demand for admissions grew.

Seva Sadan in

2016

• A Computer Lab consisting of 19 computers was set up to introduce our girls to digital technology and train them with essential computer skills.
• An Audio Visual Library was introduced in the English School.

• A playground with fun equipment was created for our Pre-Primary and Primary students of the Marathi and English Schools.

Seva Sadan in

2017

STEM (Science, Technology, English and Maths) learning to increase science literacy and critical thinking was introduced.

Seva Sadan in

2018

• Studio Plus, a contemporary multi-purpose studio for fitness, dance, drama, and other extra-curricular classes was launched.
• Digital Classrooms were introduced in all our schools.

Seva Sadan in

2019

The programme Girls Who Code was introduced with the aim to inspire, educate, and equip young women with computing skills to pursue 21st century opportunities.

Seva Sadan in

2020

Seva Sadan’s premises, a historic landmark in South Mumbai, include the Malabari Hall, a colonial-style building over a century old. The Hall was inaugurated in 1924 and refurbished in 2018-19 to preserve its heritage charm, funded by the international organization Jones Day Foundation. It earned the prestigious UNESCO Award of Merit for Cultural Heritage Conservation in 2020.

This unique recognition stands as a testament to Seva Sadan’s vision of upholding the highest standards of endeavour and preserving its legacy. It also highlights the formidable expertise of renowned heritage architect Mrs. Brinda Somaya and M/s Somaya & Kalappa Consultants. This landmark achievement received wide coverage in leading newspapers and publications.

Seva Sadan in

2022

Seva Sadan Society’s English School has received the Letter of Approval from the Education Department, marking a milestone in our commitment to education. This approval to operate up to the SSC Board level paves the way for students to receive quality education while establishing a seamless K-10 learning pathway.

Seva Sadan in

2024

The school hall, previously in a dilapidated condition and used for events and extracurricular activities, was renovated with funding from S.K. Elite Industries Limited. Now transformed into the newly upgraded Saroj Rawat Hall, this versatile, fully air-conditioned space is used by our schools and is also available for rent after school hours on weekdays and throughout the weekends.