Founders
Founders
Our Founders
Every President has been an unique personality having specification in different areas.
As a result there has been all round growth of Ugar Mahila Mandal.
Mrs. Durgatai Shirgaokar
President (1943-1970) 27 yearsA personality who is known to be the key figure behind the success of both The Ugar Sugar Works Ltd. and Ugar Mahila Mandal. She was actually a helping hand to almost every needy person besides being a mother to all those who were deprived. Her attitude of reaching out to others in their times of distress and need was really praiseworthy.
Born and brought up in Kochi, studied in St. Canossa’s (ICSE). She had a flair for the English language but after her marriage to Mr. V.S. Shirgaokar, she lived in Kolhapur and then spent all her life in Ugar.
She literally worshiped ‘God’ in mankind. She would knit woolens for every child born in the hospital and stitch baby clothes and wrappers for them. She always thought of others, a very rare attitude and fed Kanji – prepared at home to weak children. Also cared for rickety children and women alike. She would visit all the workers’ colonies and saw that their children do not sit by the roadside.
Visited their houses, praised them for cleanliness, gave them prizes. This she did out of her penchant for cleanliness. And the workers’ families felt happy when she paid a visit to their homes.
As a President she pursued the following activities:
1) Literacy class for the illiterate.
2) She saw to it that Lady Doctors visited the factory hospital every Sunday to help ladies with Gynaec and other problems.
Dr. Shenolikar of Bhilawadi and Dr. Asha Rani Desai of Sangli often visited Ugar.
3) From the year 1951 celebration of ‘Navaratrotsava’ started.
4) An annual trip would be organised.
5) In the year 1952 ‘Balmandir’ was inaugurated with the children of officers and factory workers and as of today there are almost 500 children and is successfully run in Kannada, Marathi and English medium.
Mrs. Tarakaki Shirgaokar
President (1970-1980) 10 yearsA very religious social and motherly personality is what ‘Dear Tarakaki’ was to each and everyone in Ugar. She had taken the initiative to establish a separate ‘Bhajani Mandal’ named as “Mauli Bhakti Mandal”.
It was started in the year 1962 and as of today it is working successfully. It has performed programmes at various places like temples of Goa, Kudal, Karnataka and some temples of Maharashtra too.
Also it has featured on Mumbai Door Darshan, ETV and regular performer on the Radio station. The first Bhajan programme was organized on the terrace of Tarakaki’s bungalow.
During Tarakaki’s regime priority was given to spiritual programmes like Bhajan, Kirtan and spiritual discourses.
The first big trip of Ugar Mahila Mandal was organized during her tenure, during 1974 February to Tirupati, Shravanbelgola, Halebid, Belur, Mysore and Bangalore with the minimum expense like Rs.500 for 5-6 days duration. Smitatai was the Trip Secretary at that time.
Mrs. Meenatai Shirgaokar
President (1980-1995) 15 yearsShe took charge as President in the year 1980. Organizing limited but standard programmes throughout the year was Meenatai’s policy. She had a balanced and reticent personality. She used to handle all matters with few words but accurately. A perfect leader with a neat and nice personality. During her tenure, she personally taught women and girls – crochet, fine embroidery, patch work etc. Cooking classes and demonstration of Bakery products would also be arranged.
A special machine was
installed in the premises of Ugar Mahila Mandal for ‘knitting cardigans’. This was with a view of providing employment to women. With this sane idea ‘Mahila Store’ was also opened. Mrs. Neelatai Padalkar shouldred the responsibility of accounts of this store. This store existed for 7-8 years only.
National Savings Certificates of cane growers were also done by Ugar Mahila Mandal.It was done with remarkable expertise and almost each year we bagged the award of Rs.10,000. In this respect a special mention has to be made of Mrs. Sarojini Bhat who herself being a very neat and organized person, she so to say streamlined the work of National Savings in such a proper way – it had to be successful. We will always cherish her great contribution.
Preparation of liquid soap for industrial purpose was also one of the important projects of Ugar Mahila Mandal. For the last 30-40 years it has been pursued continuously by Ugar Mahila Mandal
It was her idea of starting a Nursery School next to Bal Mandir. It came into existence in September 1995
Mrs. Smitatai Shirgaokar
President (1995-as of today)She took over as President from 1995 and started working continuously for women empowerment. We cannot define her personality in words. She is very much concerned about the growth of Ugar Mahila Mandal and is very passionate about it. Verities of programmes, meaningful and creative stage decorations, innovative ideas and its presentation are the specialities of Sou. Smitatai.
An all-round and versatile President, she has given a new direction to Ugar Mahila Mandal. She has a passion for social work. As a result, she was crowned by the “John Dalvi Award” by Leslie Sawhney Foundation of Tata Trust Mumbai in the year 2001.
With her valuable guidance, Ugar Mahila Mandal has accomplished various programmes and seminars, which will benefit the society at large.
Programmes are arranged for college girls and boys. 1) Investment in Health is a sound investment.
2) Career Options
3) Arranging lectures on interesting subjects.
For members 1) Audio visual programmes are arranged on health issues like Thyroid, Cancer, Polycystic Ovaries and its problems.
2) Mental Health – Depression, different mental problems and cures available.
3) Guidance of a Lawyer for various problems like property, inheritance, will etc.
4) Spiritual discourses also attract a lot of members. She had taken initiative for several other valuable projects. Which are covered in detail in related sub menus.