Established on the auspicious day of Labh Pancham of Samvat Year 1972 viz. in 1915 in a rented premises at Matunga, Mumbai, with two students, Shri. Hirji Bhojraj & Sons Cutchi Visha Oswal Jain Chhatralaya, popularly known as Matunga Boading is the backbone of the Cutchi Visha Oswal Jain Community.
Initiated and inspired by Shri Velji Lakhamshi Napoo and other philanthropic and far sighted leaders of the community, Matunga Boarding has helped creating future of more than 9000 students by providing them with education and training in various arts and crafts since its inception and given Cutchi Visha Oswal Jain Community many well-known Chartered Accountants, Engineers, Doctors, Businessmen, Artists etc. and above all better persons.
In or about 1931, Shri Nanji Hirji Bhojraj and Shri Ratanshi Hirji Bhojraj donated a sum of Rs. 1,25,000 to the institution on certain terms and conditions inter alia adding the name of their father, that is, Shri Hirji Bhojraj. The institution has since then,been known as Shri Hirji Bhojraj& Sons Cutchi Visha Oswal Jain Chhatralaya.
The institution received several donations with the co-operation of the Cutchi Visha Oswal community. In 1934, a generous donation of 1,30,000 kori (the currency of the then Kutch State), from the Trustees of Sheth Ghelabhai Ganshi Smarak Fund was received and a branch of the institution was established at Durgapur, Kutch.
In 1945, a handsome donation of Rs. 81,000 was received from Shri Hirji Ghelabhai Savla for a Gujarati medium secondary school attached to the institution now known as Shri Hirji Ghelabhai Savla Vidyalaya. Today, the institution's new building on a plot of land of about 6000 sq. meters, also accommodates Shishuvan, our English Medium School with modern facilities for imparting quality education to the students.
In this reconstruction of their alma-mater, the cost of which has about Rs.10 crores, the past students of the institution decided to donate Rs. 5.25 crores as a demonstration of their gratitude, without any conditions. This speaks volumes about the institution which is seen as a mother who has nurtured her children over the decades.
Working together, optimize all resources including faculty, Facilities and good governance towards developing excellence in Students as well as skills to deal with changes.
To be a world-class institution rooted in Indian culture that enables holistic development and empowers the students from all strata of society, along with stakeholders, deal with any global scenario.
Precedent to unprecedented
What a wonderful moment that would be! What a fate! The Deities will have a rare sight! When foremost Acharya Bhagavant like Jindattasuri must have had the noble idea to educate the Kshatriyas of this Osiya in Satyamarg, Vitaragmarg and Jainism. Those Kshatriyas must be strong in body, strong headed and huge but humble and simple in heart because they have left their traditional religion and joined this divine path of unique incomparable Jain religion. Mixed up in caste, mixed up in union, mixed up by heart, completely united. As sugar gets dissolved in milk, these Kshatriyas became Jains.
The effect of Acharyashri's speech, the effect of His conduct, and the effect of His strong determination had worked. Acharyashri's boon hand must have risen and must have become boon. That blessing speech must have been glorious. Today, we caste people pay homage by remembering this wonderful service of our ancestors. Look at our meritorious fate that Jainism has come to us from the mother's womb.
What was found then has become many times more fortunate today! It is a wonderful story of our Caste! What pains our forefathers must have endured with much struggle, their circumstances, their leaven, their migration, to save our religion.
With the help of Jain religion, self-reliance, kindness, frugality, skill, hard work, audacity and with inspiration of relatives as well as villagers, the Kachchi Visa Osval to became a special caste. Due to this, they have become Mahajan in Kutch. K.V.O., who sits in the front rows of Kutch and among the front castes of each village. They were bestowed upon the post of Patel of the village. They had reputed place of pride and repute among other castes.
Due to thrift habits, one avoids wrongful expenditure. Thrift was his virtue. They were an open-minded progressive in adopting reforms. Ready to go to a new and unchartered territory. Never cheated or embezzled while working. Expert with Numerical. All this was enough for them to become businessmen.
A special thanks should be given to the women of our caste. Women were homely, hardworking, demanding cleanliness, neat and tidy, in spite of being illiterate or less educated. They took great care of house and family culture. In spite of hard work and variety of duties, they held to rich culture of society.
Jain monks and nuns have really helped their men and women followers with great interest. Gave them preaching. Explained them to practice fair conduct along with religion.
Women used to help in housework, animal husbandry and farming. Knew home remedies too. They were living in village but were not clumsy,but were very practical. Satisfaction was their treasure. Their aim was to teach values and rites to their children. They used to foresee betterment of family as wife, mother, sister, grandmother, aunt, daughter or any other role. Widow aunts and daughters used to get easily adjusted in big family.
South Indians, Bengalis, Maharashtrian Brahmins, Gujarati nagars, etc castes were inclined towards education since last 3-4 generations or more. With the help of education, they reached at positions like diwan, lawyer, doctor, government bureaucrats etc. Only since last 3 generations, we started education with small baby steps. But since last 60 years and more specifically since last 35 years, we have progressed in many fields.
Other Jains were urbanized earlier than us and more educated. We have been climbing the ladder of entrepreneurship farmers, bureaucrats, traders, industrialists etc.
I have only one ideology, not even a single person, son or daughter of the society should be without education. Show your interest in any favourite field. I pray that Maa Sharda's grace descends on everyone. I do not do anything else but give the key to be a good human being. Can’t you see vigour & vitality in my voice? ”
Yes, our organisation has taught us to become human being; they have given us values too. That will continue unceasingly, unbroken and intact.
Gyan Yatra never stops. Starting from ancient times, even today continuing towards undescended and will continue to progress for tomorrow also. This tree of mangoes will always be rich with its fruits. We are grateful to those who have nurtured this tree for others.