Brief History of St. Xavier's High School .
How did the Jesuits came to establish themselves in Kolhapur?
This princely State, Whose rulers claim to be direct descendants of the great Shivaji, was not lacking in educational institutions. Indeed, the town of Kolhapur can boast of possessing over thirty high schools with Marathi as their medium of instructions. But quite a number of citizens of Kolhapur, for reasons but known to themselves, preferred to send their children to English medium schools in Panchagani, Poona and Belgium. By 1955, there were about thirty boys from Kolhapur in the hostel at St.Paul’s Belgaum.
As the kolhapurians themselves realized this fact, they began to speak to the Fathers about the possibility of a Jesuit school in Kolhapur.
Their demand for an English –medium school in Kolhapur grew in insistance.
Then came the merger of the Belgaum Mission with the Poona Mission. A petition signed by the prominent people of Kolhapur was forwarded to Fr. Geisel with a request for a Jesuit school in Kolhapur.
Fr.Geisel liked the idea partly because a school in Kolhapur would serve as a link between the newly –merged missions which were otherwise separated by a distance of 220 miles and partly because a school in Kolhapur could be a forward position to open up the surrounding area to evangelical activity.
In May 1956 St.Xavier’s fulfil its purpose and guide the footsteps of many in the way of knowledge and truth.
Rev.Fr.John Miranda s.j.
(One of the pioneers of the institute)
3rd October Frs.Geisel, Rego and Miranda visit Kolhapur to study the situation. The Kolhapurians were determined to impress the Fathers. They organized a meeting in a Law College. The meeting was published in local newspaper. The fathers had to give a respectful Learning while about eight orators tried to convince them about the propriety of their cause. When all the speakers had their say, Fr.Geisel rose to reply. He promised to take their demand into consideration. He said that project proved feasible, he was prepared to start a Hindi or Marathi or English school to suit their needs. He also promised to respect their religious susceptibilities. 8th Dec 1956 two Jesuits teams meet in the circuit house, Kolhapur to discuss the project of a school in Kolhapur.
Frs. Geisel, Sehoch and Weber came from Poona: and Frs. Rego, Countinho and Miranda drove in from Belgaum the various pros and cons having been duly weighed, it was finally
decided to start the school.
25th Dec 1916 – Feverish preparation a foot to inaugurate the school in 15th June. As St. Paul’s Belgaum, was well known to and highly esteemed by many in Kolhapur, it was decided to call the school in Kolhapur by the same name.
The Mudhol House, opposite the New Palace was taken on rent. Admissions continued to be made.Fathers Countinho furnished the house as best as he could. He moved in occupied a couple of rooms in the block behind the main building, which was entirely converted into classrooms.
The men at the helm of the School thought that indianization of the name of the school would be welcomed by the people. Mudhol house was then known to them as Shanti Cottage. Therefore, St.Paul’was changed intoShanti Vidyalaya and the school was to be known by that name about a year.
15th June At the stroke of 9 Shanti Vidyalaya was inaugurated. Shri G.R.Raddi IAS collector of kolhapur presided. Speeches were made by Rev.Fr.Miranda & Mr Bagi. After the inaugural address, pedas were distributed to the guests and children.
Click here to check past Principals of St. Xavier's High School, Kolhapur.