India saw considerable social and cultural transformation in the early 20th century, and one of the biggest advances of that time was in women’s education. Educational reformers realised the critical need for specialised institutions that would allow women to pursue higher education in a society where women’s access to formal education was restricted and frequently hampered by conventional roles.
In 1916, Maharishi Dr Dhondo Keshav Karve established the first women’s university with the main goal of empowering women via education. The establishment, which marked the start of an organised university-level education solely for women, was not only revolutionary in the Indian context but also historic in the larger South-East Asian region.
Which Was the First Women’s University in India?
TheShreemati Nathibai Damodar Thackersey Women’s University (SNDTWU) was the first women’s university in India and in South-East Asia, established in 1916 by Maharishi Dr Dhondo Keshav Karve.
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Shreemti Nathibai Damodar Thackersey Women’s University (SNDTWU) was named in recognition of a charitable contribution that aided the university’s growth and sustainability.
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The university began with only a few students, but this small group signalled a shift in national educational goals, signifying that women could and should seek higher education on equal footing with men.
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The first group of five women who finished their studies and graduated in 1921 represented the university’s founding mission.
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The Shreemati Nathibai Damodar Thackersey Women’s University has its headquarters located in Churchgate Campus in Mumbai, with the other two campuses located at Juhu in Mumbai and Karve Road in Pune.
| Did You Know? One of the Unique features of the Shreemati Nathibai Damodar Thackersey Women’s University, unlike most universities in the country, is that it does not have state control. The Shreemati Nathibai Damodar Thackersey Women’s University (SNDTWU) can affiliate with colleges and institutions in India, with the State Government’s prior approval. |
Given below are some key highlights of the First Women’s University in India:-
List of Courses Offered by the SNDT University
Once the Shreemati Nathibai Damodar Thackersey Women’s University was established, the university did not remain stagnant. Its academic scope and geographic reach have grown over time. Following its initial success and celebration of early graduates, the university expanded by adding new departments, disciplines, and programs.
The rise of the SNDT Women’s University was not only gradual, but it also showed a growing commitment to offering women opportunities in a variety of sectors, including arts and sciences, professional and technical education. In the university’s centuries-long history, the university has evolved into a multidisciplinary institution that offers a wide range of professional, technical, and liberal arts programs from K12 to PhD levels.
Given below is the list of courses offered by the Shreemati Nathibai Damodar Thackersey Women’s University (SNDTWU) are as follows:-
| Faculties of the Universities | Courses Offered |
| Faculty of Humanities |
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| Faculty of Interdisciplinary Studies |
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| Faculty of Science and Technology |
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| Faculty of Commerce and Management |
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Some of the courses offered by the first women’s university in India, the Shreemati Nathibai Damodar Thackersey Women’s University, are Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Arts in various specialisations, Bachelor of Technology in several specialisations, Bachelor of Science in various specialisations, etc.
The Shreemati Nathibai Damodar Thackersey Women’s University is a pioneering institution in women’s higher education in India and Southeast Asia. Founded in 1916 by Maharishi Dr Dhondo Keshav Karve, it welcomed women when such opportunities were few, graduating its first students in 1921 and gradually expanding into a multidisciplinary institution that continues to uphold its purpose of empowering women through education.
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