Pathak trust

Pathak Trustis an Indian charitable trust based in Miraj with varied social activities including an orphanage, an old-age home and a shelter for women. It was founded by the late Dr N. R. Pathak a social leader and doctor from Miraj.

Dr N. R. Pathak was born in Wai on 30 September 1915. He was the third and youngest child of Shri Ramchandra and Seetabai Pathak of Miraj. His father was Police Inspector of the erstwhile princely state of Miraj. His eldest brother Ganga Dhar was a student of Engineering College, Karachi and the second brother Balkrishna (Bhau Saheb) was initially Personal Secretary of Raja of Miraj then went on to become the Police Inspector of the state like his father. Dr Pathak lost his father when he was just 17 and soon his eldest brother also succumbed to typhoid. Thus he had to face a lot of hardship at a youngage. But his brother Bhausaheb and his mother Seetabai encouraged him to pursue a career in medicine.

Dr Pathak studied at Mission Medical School of the Miraj Medical Centre. He obtained licentiate of College of Physicians and Surgeons of Bombay. After his completion of LCPS, he worked at Ghataprabha and later at the Grant Medical College and also Wadia Hospital in Bombay. He was a skilled surgeon with keen interest in Ophthalmology also.

An event in his life that made a lasting impression was that when young, he was out on a trip with father who was Police Inspector. They came across a newly born baby was wrapped in a piece of cloth and left abandoned or dead. This stirred his impressionable mind. Later when he was a student at Mission Hospital he saw the plight of the deceived helpless mothers and their children. He wondered if these missionaries can sail across thousands of miles just to serve these people why then the local people specially the Hindus cannot help them. Inspired by this , he took efforts to admit three to four orphans in Kolhapur Ashram. Later he came to know the activities from “Shradhanand Mahilashram”, Matunga, Mumbai and Shri. Navrange Balakashram, Pandharpur. By now he had made his mind to start his own orphanage in Miraj.

2nd October 1947, Shri. Baburao Amte and Smt. Koparde had found a deserted baby by roadside and brought it to Dr Pathak. He was excited and enthusiastic to take up the challenge of bringing up this child. Had his mother and brother as rest of his family not supportive enough, it was impossible to do this in an orthodox Brahmin family in those days. The baby was named Surendra and two people were employed to take care of the baby. Thus the Pathak Anathashram Started.

This small orphanage soon started growing fast. Despite of criticism from others, Dr Pathak was not affected by any bad remark but continued the orphanage by putting his own hard earned money for the development of the orphanage. He even solved the problem of the perplexed school master of Surendra about his surname and father’s name, he simply told the schoolmaster to enroll the kid as ‘Surendra Narsinha Pathak’. Thus now every child was Pathak and rightly so because none of them was no longer an ‘anath’.

Dr Pathak strived hard to impart best possible education to these children also personally cared for their nutrition, and health. He was keen on the fact that apart from scholastic education children could get knowledge about sports, religion and vocational trades so that one day they could stand on their own feet.

From 1947 to 1969 without any monitory contribution from Government Agency and Private Trusts, the orphanage was run solely by the Pathak family. But growing number of children and need of more space needed further support. As the expenses were pretty heavy for him to bear alone, he took effort to meet Mr. Tatake, Secretary of Shradhanand Ashram, Mumbai, and ensured that some of the orphans (mostly girls) were sent to Mumbai for their education. Dr. Pathak contacted Mr. Limaye of Eklaywa Shala, Pali and with his help; he could educate some more orphans (mostly boys). During Summer Vacation and Diwali Vacation these orphans used to come back to Miraj for enjoying the vacation. To ensure a steady grant to the orphanage and a secure future a trust was established for this purpose this is the same Pathak Trust that runs this orphanage today.

Bhausaheb, Doctor and Smt Sitabai along with Mr Tatake were the founding members of the trust. The was registered (reg no. E-279) by name “Pathak Trust” in 1969. For registration of the Trust, the land worth Rs. 40,000/- was donated by Shri. B.R. Pathak, elder brother and Smt. Seetabai, his mother.

In starting days of the trust the trust did not have separate premises, but with help of donations by people soon enough fund was raised and construction of a new building started in Brahminpuri. The land was donated by shri Ranade. Children were shifted to the new building in 1985 and further construction done.

Dr N. R. Pathak became a member of local assembly from Miraj in 1972. Before and during his tenure he fought for various causes that included Miraj Railway Junction, Water Irrigation in draught prone area to the east of Miraj, a separate hospital for the Miraj Medical College and others. He did this just out of love toward his city and at a heavy cost of his own health, and medical practice. He passed away on 30 November 1985 at Miraj.

Today under its aegis this trust carries on following activities:

1. Orphanage

2. Old age home

3. Shelter for women

4. Senior Dai training course.