On 18th June, 1908 some like minded social workers from Mapusa laid the foundation of the institution DNYANPRASSARAK MANDAL, with the noble intention of spreading education among the masses. They started a primary Marathi school called the DNYANPRASSARAK VIDYALAYA and a Public Library ‘DURGA VACHAN MANDIR’. The finances for this noble purpose were raised by DHARMA MUTH (handful of rice collected from house to house everyday by the volunteers) and token subscription received from the members of the pubic. To begin with they could run the school with one teacher and just 20 students. VaishyaMandal was also founded in 1922 with the intention to help the DnyanprassarakMandal with necessary funds. The classes were held in private premises, first in the house of Mr. Kochkar and later at the residence of Mr. Khalap.
As the school grew, in course of time, a need for permanent accommodation was pressing and in the year 1935 VaishyaMandal constructed their own building. The ‘VaishyaBhuvan’ in the heart of the city of Mapusa, and allotted the same for conducting school classes to DnyanprassarakMandal.
One feature of this primary school was that in addition to Marathi, Portuguese classes in PrimeiroGravo and Segundo were also conducted. Hindi classes were also conducted since 1936.
The Sequel to this progressive movement was to arrange for secondary Education. The Mandal was alive to this problem and in the course of time fully developed high school was recognised to send the student for the S.S.C. Examination of Poona Board since 1956.
Activities of DnyanprassarakMandal in the field of education attracted public attention and the guardians of the local students population expressed their desire to the Management to explore the possibilities of providing facilities for higher education to their wards. The task was colossal but the need was genuine. A large group of students hailing from hinterlands of Bardez, Bicholim, Sanquelim, Pernem and other northern parts of Goa could now afford to travel distances to metropolis to take higher education. The University of Bombay granted affiliation to conduct a Commerce College from June, 1974.
The Mandal acquired land admeasuring 80,000 sq.mt. at the top of the Assagao Hill and the ground floor of the college building was completed by the end of December, 1982 and College commenced functioning in the new building from 10th January, 1983.
Thereafter the activities of the Mandal went on in ascending order. As on this date the Mandal is managing the following institution.
1. Indira NarahariNarvekar Institute of Post Graduate Studies and Research.
2. ShrikrishnaTukaramPokle College of Management Studies and Technology.
3. VNS Bandekar College of Commerce.
4. SheelaPremanandVaidya College of Science.
5. AnandRamchandraSirsat College of Arts.
6. SarojiniMadhusudanKushe Jr. College of Commerce & Institute of Vocational Studies.
7. Naguesh Shiva Gavandalkar Jr. College of Arts.
8. JairamBhikajiNeogi Jr. College of Science.
9. DnyanprassarakVidyalaya (Primary & Secondary School).
10. Durga VachanMandir (Public Library).