Established in June 1957, Mudhoji College is one of the earliest and premier institutes catering quality oriented higher education to rural youth. The time when the college was started was very crucial. There were no opportunities of higher education in rural areas. The students in this region had to go to Pune for higher studies. That was difficult and costly for people from agrarian background. For girl students the situation was worse. They had to leave education because of the lack of facilities. Shrimant Malojiraje, after realizing the needs decided to start a college. He succeeded in attracting and maintaining Faculty from metropolitan cities like Pune. He voluntary provided his palace to engage classes and to run the administrative work. He also provided strong financial support for almost everything in the college. The College was first affiliated to the then Poona University. After the foundation of Shivaji University, Kolhapur in 1960, the affiliation was transferred. As the number of students went on increasing, it was difficult to run the college in the palace. In 1958, the college was shifted to its present location at the ‘Harinarayan Tekadi’ at the west of the city. Shrimant Malojiraje generously donated 28.5 acres of his personal land to the college. The foundation stone was laid by the auspicious hands of late Shri. Yashwantrao Chavan, the Chief Minister of Mumbai Province. Initially, the building had ground plus first floor. In the course of time additional floor and separate buildings were constructed through various funds. Apart from the initial Arts and Commerce courses, Science and PG in Languages were added in 1980s.With the arrival of new trends in higher education, the college stated self funded, skill based and job oriented professional courses like BBA, BCA, BCS and PGDCA. Infrastructural facilities were also added every year to merge the large number of students and the changing needs of time. At present the college has a large building with 32 classrooms, 19 laboratories, 04 multipurpose halls, a spacious library and 04 lanes 800 meter running track. The college has made its mark in students support activities like NSS, NCC, Cultural, Sports, Competitive examination centre, Placement cell, elocution, essay, debates, etc. It has given scope to the use of ICT in academic and administrative levels. The college finds good place in academic results also. It has full fledged unit of junior college. Royal and visionary management, reputed Principals, highly educated Faculty, fully dedicated Staff and disciplined, meritorious students are some of our major strengths. Along with Shrimant Malojiraje and Shrimant Shivajiraje this college is also associated with the name of the great orator from Maharashtra, Principal Shivajirao Bhosale.

The Phaltan city is one the ancient places in southern Maharashtra. It lies between 17◦ 58’ North latitudes to 18◦ 9’ North latitudes and 74◦ 10’ to 74◦45’ East longitudes. It is situated on the banks of the river Banganga. It comes under the drought prone area and the annual rainfall is meager. Obviously, because of the lack of permanent source of irrigation, the agriculture was not developed in the past. The State highways from Mahad to Pandharpur and also from Pune to Pandharpur pass through the present city. There are some legends and myths related to the origin of the place. It has been said that in the period of Ramayana, a ‘rishi’ named Phalastha used to live on the banks of the river. The place was then surrounded by lots of trees. Lord Rama is said to have paid visit to the place where presently lies the Shri Krishna temple. There are some historical references also. During the region of King Shingan(1210-1247 A.D.) from the Yadav dynasty of Deogiri, the forest of this place was removed and settlement was facilitated for the increased population. The place was called as ‘Phalanwadi’ by the then people. In the course of time the names went on evolving from Phalanwadi to Phalastan, Phalpattan and finally to Phaltan. As per the second legend, this area belonged to the ‘Dandakaranya’ of the Ramayana period. While in exile, Lord Rama lived in this region. One day, Goddess Seeta felt thirsty. As there was no water around, Lord Rama hit the earth with one of his arrows that brought out a rivulet of water. It later on turned into the river named Banganga. In the literature of the ‘Mahanubhava’ sect, there is a reference to a water tank that had some miraculous medicinal quality of curing diseases. As per the order of the king the place was safeguarded with stone walls and a roof top called ‘chaupalla’ was erected. It is said to be found in Shri Krishna temple, yet.One of the founders of the Mahanubhava sect, Changdev Raul alias Swami Chakrapani, later on called as Shri Chakradhar was born in this city. The large number of old temples like Jabreshwar, Rameshwar, Mankeshwar, Nageshwar, Shriram and Shri Krishna etc. is a testimony of the ancient legacy of this place.

As stated above, Phaltan finds an important position as a religious place for Hindus as well as for Mahanubhavas. It is supposed to be the ‘Dakshin Kashi’ for them. It is a major pilgrimage centre of the Mahanubhavas. It also has the tradition of great saints like Upalekar Maharaj,Sadguru Haribuwa who resided at this place. Phaltan is one of the important stop overs for the palakhi procession of Saint Dyaneshwar journeying from Alandi to Pandharpur and back, every year. Phaltan has many temples of the Jains and an old mosque of the Muslims named ‘Badshahi Masjid’.

Phaltan was one of the important historical and princely states in pre independence period. It was linked to the Bhosale clan to which Chattrapati Shivaji Raje Bhosale belonged. His grandmother Deepabai as well as his first wife Saibai was from the Naik Nimbalkar family which ruled this state since 13th century. The erstwhile royal family traces its origins to Nimbraj, who belonged to the Parmar royal family of Dhar dynasty in Rajasthan. In around 1270, Nimbraj migrated from Dhar and arrived at this part of Maharashtra, ultimately settling down near Phaltan. With the help from local people, he set up his own rule, in this part. Nimraj’s son Podkala exhibited valiant bravery when he died while fighting in the war of 1327.The then Sultan of Delhi, Muhammad Tughlaq got impressed by the news of Podkala’s valour and awarded his son Nimbraj II the ‘Jagir’of Phaltan and conferred the title ‘Nayak’ on him. Subsequently, the Naik Nimbalkars became the ‘Jagirdaars’ of the Satara State ruled by the Chattrapatis. Their rule was guaranteed under the Satara Accord in 1819 signed by the rulers of Satara State and the East India Company. Later on in 1891, all these Jagirdars were placed under the direct control of the British. There were in all twenty five rulers from the Naik Nimbalkar royal family who ruled this state up to Indian independence. The state was then voluntarily merged into Indian Republic with the treasure of Rs. fifty five lakhs by the then ruler Shrimant Malojiraje Naik Nimbalkar.

The rulers of Phaltan State were well educated and progressive minded. Naturally, they introduced many measures of social welfare in the state. They had realized that education was the best means to uplift society and bring social welfare and social justice. Shrimant Mudhojiraje ruled the state during 1860 to 1916.The remarkable achievements of his rule were renovation of the Jabreshwar temple, setting up mobile medical facilities, animal welfare homes, water supply system, providing meals to the drought hit people and setting up an English School in 1893. Because of his dedicated services to the people of the state, he was made a member of the Legislative Assembly of Mumbai Province. The British conferred the title of C.S.I. on him in 1911.

The illustrious legacy of Shrimant Mudhojiraje was carried forward by his adopted son, Shrimant Malojiraje Naik Nimbalkar who ruled from 1916 to 1948.Being a visionary ,he realized the importance of the western education system giving way to liberal, scientific, rational and comprehensive orientation. It strove to focus on the overall development of a student. With some ulterior motives of the British, the new education helped to bring some sort of renaissance in Indian society. Malojiraje took some revolutionary decisions like abolishing untouchability, eradicating the ‘purdah’ system of women, banning child marriages. He supported education of women. He had a genuine concern for farmers also. He held many prestigious positions through which he brought some development projects for the state of Maharashtra. Shrimant Malojiraje was the pioneer reformer in the fields of agriculture, cooperation, finance, civics and religion. His contribution to the field of education was unique since he expanded the already started English School and renamed it as Mudhoji High school. He started Mudhoji College, a centre of higher education in rural areas in his own palace, in 1957. It was one of the earliest colleges in Maharashtra. He also established the Phaltan Education Society in the same year. In the course of time, many new units catering education from pre primary to post graduation were added by the society. Presently, the P.E.Society administers and manages 43 different institutions which include pre primary, primary schools, secondary and higher secondary schools, agriculture school and college, a horticulture college and an engineering college, two senior colleges and English medium schools. Along with the institutional mission of providing conventional education to rural youth, it has expanded its corpus by adding skill oriented, technical based and professional fields in higher education.

After inheriting the glorious legacy of his forefathers, Shrimant Shivajiraje, the man of voracious reading and having toured many western countries took the mantle of P.E.Society. He firmly believed in the power of education in bringing complete socio economical transformation. Along with his gracious political career, he worked hard to make Phaltan Education Society a quality conscious institution. He won the love and respect of the people as a soft spoken, kind hearted person dedicated to the cause of social upliftment. The Phaltan Education Society is presently led by Hon.Shrimant Ramraje Naik Nimbalkar, Chairman,Legislative Assembly of Maharashtra State as President. Hon.Shrimant Raghunathraje Naik Nimbalkar renders his unmatched services in capacity of the Chairman. Hon.Shrimant Sanjivraje Naik Nimbalkar, the Secretary has upheld the high merits for which P.E. Society was founded, sixty years ago. Under the guidance and leadership of the trio, the society is marching towards excellence. Despite the modern age mantra of commercialization of education in all senses, P.E.Society has retained the values of social commitment and sanctity in education. Adapting to the progress and changes, the Society is ready to exhibit the best at all fronts.