# Somaiya Vidyavihar

Somaiya Vidyavihar is an Indian educational trust that operates a network of schools, colleges, and institutions across Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh. It was founded by industrialist, educationist, and philanthropist Karamshi Jethabhai Somaiya, a Padma Bhushan recipient, in 1942.

## History

Somaiya Vidyavihar was established by Karamshi Jethabhai Somaiya in 1942, starting with a primary school in Kopargaon, Maharashtra. It was formally registered as an education trust on September 7, 1959. After founding sugar factories in Sakharwadi and Laxmiwadi, Maharashtra, Karamshi Somaiya established the Somaiya Vidyamandir Schools in those locations and the K. J. Somaiya College of Arts and Sciences in 1959 in Mumbai.
The foundation stone for the Arts and Science College building at Vidyavihar was laid by the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Yashwantrao Chavan, on March 18, 1960, and Amrutlal Yagnik, a noted scholar, assumed the role of the first principal of KJ Somaiya College of Arts & Science.
The K. J. Somaiya Yoga Academy was established and inaugurated by Swami Tadrupanand in April 1993, followed by the K. J. Somaiya Centre of Buddhist Studies, inaugurated by the 14th Dalai Lama in December 1993. In 1995, Somaiya Vidyavihar along with the Somaiya Trust established the K. J. Somaiya Medical College and its affiliated K. J. Somaiya Medical College & Research Centre in Sion, Mumbai, expanding its educational portfolio to 22 institutes in 1995. As of 2024, Somaiya Vidyavihar comprises 35 academic institutions.
In 2019, Somaiya Vidyavihar put forward a proposal to the Government of Maharashtra for the establishment of a university. Following the government's approval, Somaiya Vidyavihar University was founded, marking the first self-financed private university in Mumbai. The university is governed jointly by Somaiya Vidyavihar, the K. J. Somaiya Trust, and The Somaiya Trust.
In January 2024, the student satellite team at K. J. Somaiya Institute of Technology launched their amateur radio satellite, 'BeliefSat-0', from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. This launch was a collaboration with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) as part of their PSLV-C58 mission.

## Campus

Their institutions offer programs in a wide range of disciplines, including arts, sciences, management, engineering, medicine, humanities, philosophy, and social sciences. The institution's main campus is located in Mumbai, spread across two locations, a 65-acre complex in Vidyavihar and a 35-acre adjoining complex in Sion. In addition to its main campus, Somaiya Vidyavihar also offers autonomous postgraduate courses, vocational training programs, and high schools.

## Institutions

Institutions under Somaiya Vidyavihar Education Trust cater to various disciplines of education, with the following colleges under its fold.
| Institution | Course | Year Founded | Accreditation | Affiliation | Location |
| K J Somaiya College of Arts and Commerce | Degree | 1959 | NAAC | University of Mumbai, Autonomous | Vidyavihar, Mumbai |
| K J Somaiya Polytechnic | Engineering | 1963 | MSBTE | Autonomous | Vidyavihar, Mumbai |
| SMT Sakarbai K Somaiya Junior College of Education | Education | 1963 | AICTE | Autonomous | Vidyavihar, Mumbai |
| S K Somaiya Vinay Mandir Junior College | Higher Education | 1965 | MSBTE | | Vidyavihar, Mumbai |
| K J Somaiya College of Science and Commerce | Degree | 1972 | NAAC | University of Mumbai | Vidyavihar, Mumbai |
| K J Somaiya Junior College of Arts and Commerce | Higher Education | 1976 | MSBTE | | Vidyavihar, Mumbai |
| K J Somaiya Junior College of Science and Commerce | Higher Education | 1976 | NAAC | University of Mumbai, Autonomous | Vidyavihar, Mumbai |
| K J Somaiya Private Industrial Training Institute | Vocational | 1988 | | NCVT, Maharashtra Knowledge Corporation Limited (MKCL) | Vidyavihar, Mumbai |
| K J Somaiya Medical College and Research Centre | Medical | 1991 | MCI | Maharashtra University of Health Sciences | Ayurvihar, Sion, Mumbai |
| S K Somaiya College of Arts, Science and Commerce | Degree | 1995 | NAAC | University of Mumbai | Vidyavihar, Mumbai |
| K J Somaiya Institute of Technology | Engineering | 2001 | NBA, NAAC, AICTE, DTE | University of Mumbai | Ayurvihar, Sion, Mumbai |
| K J Somaiya College of Physiotherapy | Physiotherapy | 2002 | | Maharashtra University of Health Sciences | Ayurvihar, Sion, Mumbai |
| K J Somaiya College of Nursing | Nursing | 2011 | Maharashtra Nursing Council Indian Nursing Council | Maharashtra University of Health Sciences | Ayurvihar, Sion, Mumbai |
| Somaiya Kala Vidya | Arts | 2014 | | | Adipur, Kutch, Gujarat |

## Schools

In rural India, Somaiya Vidyavihar operates six schools across locations including Dahanu, Sakarwadi, Laxmiwadi, Kopargaon (Maharashtra), Kutch (Gujarat), Sameerwadi, Bagalkot (Karnataka), and Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh).
In 2019, Class 10 students of Somaiya Vidya Mandir Laxmiwadi and Somaiya Vidya Mandir Sakarwadi achieved a 90% pass rate in the Maharashtra State Secondary Certificate (SSC) examinations, with two female students topping their schools in rural Ahmednagar. In 2020, a student of Class 10th of Somaiya School achieved a top score in the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Class 10 examination for the Mumbai and Pune regions.
In June 2024, it opened Somaiya Vidya Mandir School in Rehti, Madhya Pradesh, to provide education to children from the Budhni, Rehti, Nasrullaganj and Obedullaganj regions.
| School | Year Founded | Accreditation/Affiliation | Location |
| Primary School | 1942 | | Kopargaon, Ahmednagar district, Maharashtra |
| Somaiya Vidya Mandir, Sakarwadi | 1959 | Maharashtra State Board | Sakarwadi, Kopargaon, Ahmednagar district, Maharashtra |
| Somaiya Vidya Mandir - Laxmiwadi | 1959 | Maharashtra State Board | Laxmiwadi, Rahata, Ahmednagar district, Maharashtra |
| K.J.Somaiya Secondary School, Nareshwadi | 1974 | Maharashtra State Board | Nareshwadi, Palghar district, Maharashtra |
| Somaiya Shishu Niketan Primary School | 1974 | KSEEB | Sameerwadi, Mudhol, Bagalkot district, Karnataka |
| Sou. Leelaben M Kotak Primary School | 1983 | MSBTE | Nareshwadi, Palghar district, Maharashtra |
| Somaiya Vinaymandir High School | 1984 | KSEEB | Sameerwadi, Mudhol, Bagalkot district, Karnataka |
| K J Somaiya English Medium School | 2004 | CBSE | Sameerwadi, Mudhol, Bagalkot district, Karnataka |
| The Somaiya School | 2012 | CBSE | Vidyavihar, Mumbai |
| Shri Sharda English Medium School | 2012 | CBSE | Kopargaon, Maharashtra |
| Somaiya Vidya Mandir | 2024 | | Bori Village, Rehti, Madhya Pradesh |

## Leadership

At Somaiya Vidyavihar, the presidency is currently held by Samir Somaiya, who assumed the position in 2011.
Its first president was Natwarlal H. Bhagwati, a retired Supreme Court of India judge and former vice-chancellor of both the University of Bombay and Banaras Hindu University. Previously, the organisation was presided over by Justice P. N. Bhagwati, a former Chief Justice of India. Additionally, Karamshi Jethabhai Somaiya and S.K. Somaiya have both served as Vice Presidents and Presidents of Somaiya Vidyavihar in the past.

## Initiatives and activities
### RiiDL

The Research Innovation Incubation Design Laboratory Foundation (RiiDL) was established in 2010 by Somaiya Vidyavihar as an initiative to promote entrepreneurship and innovation. RiiDL functions as a business incubator supported by the Government of India's Department of Science and Technology (DST), Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), and the Maharashtra State Innovation Society (MSINS). It provides educational programs, infrastructure access, and connects startups with a network of mentors, investors, and advisors. Startup India selected RiiDL as one of the centers to celebrate National Startup Day in 2023.

### Maker Mela

Since 2015, Somaiya Vidyavihar has hosted the annual Maker Mela, a platform for showcasing grassroots innovations in India across various fields including arts, crafts, engineering, science, and agriculture. The event features maker booths, speaker sessions, and cultural programs, attracting a diverse audience annually and organised by RiiDL.

### Darwin

Darwin is an annual conference event organized by Somaiya Vidyavihar through Bioriidl, a part of the Riidl, to promote open science and bio-entrepreneurship. The event features talks, workshops, hackathons, and research symposiums.

## Recognition

Karamshi Jethabhai Somaiya, the founder, was posthumously awarded the Padma Bhushan, India's third-highest civilian award, in 2000 for his contributions to social work.

## Other

* Vidyavihar railway station and the Mumbai suburb of Vidyavihar derive their names from Somaiya Vidyavihar.

## Gallery

* K. J. Somaiya Medical College & Research Centre
* K. J. Somaiya Institute of Technology
* Running track at K J Somaiya Institute of Management
* Wikipedia Editing Workshop at K. J. Somaiya Institute of Technology in 2013
* At Somaiya Vidyavihar