Maharashtra Academy of Engineering and Educational Research (MAEER) was established in 1983 in Pune through the collective efforts of teachers, academicians, technocrats, socio-political figures and others. It is a one-of-a-kind institution, inspired by the spiritual thought process of great Indian Philosopher Saints like Saint Dnyaneshwar and Saint Tukaram, the scientific inquiry of Dr. Albert Einstin and the Philosophical and patriotic zeal of Swami Vivekananda.

The Seed Thought:

Prof. Dr. Vishwanath D. Karad, then serving as a professor of Mechanical Engineering in the redoubtable College of Engineering, Pune, took the lead in this endeavor. However, its seeds were sown about a decade earlier in Prof. Dr. Karad’s mind.

The year was 1972, and Maharashtra was undergoing a crippling drought. Many people were leaving their villages and were migrating to the cities in search of subsistence.

The State Government had initiated many employment guarantee projects. Young Professor Vishwanath Karad observed that most of the supervising engineers on these projects were graduates from private colleges located in neighboring states like Karnataka, which had quite a few private colleges for professional education. Students from outside the state paid higher capitation fees to secure admission in these colleges.

Prof. Karad probed deeper and found out that because there were inadequate seats in the government colleges of Maharashtra, there was an exodus of students from Maharashtra to Karnataka. He thought, why should other states earn at the expense of our state? Instead, why shouldn’t Maharashtra allow the establishment of private-financed unaided engineering colleges?

Creating History:

This seed took a few years to germinate in his mind. In the meanwhile, he discussed this thought with many of his fellow professors and other eminent members of society.

It was in 1981, that he wrote an article on the need to establish a private engineering college in Maharashtra. This article was published in the leading daily ‘Maharashtra Times’ in Mumbai on 14^th April 1981. Soon, the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly started serious discussions on this idea.

It is said that ‘the future belongs to those who dare’. Prof. Vishwanath D. Karad dared to take this issue on his capable shoulders and push it forward. He pushed the matter in whichever forum possible.

Resultantly, the visionary Chief Minister of Maharashtra late Padmabhushan Vasant Dada Patil formally announced the founding of privately financed unaided engineering colleges in Maharashtra.

All this while, Prof. Vishwanath Karad sir was nurturing the idea of establishing an engineering college of his own.

But for this, there was a requirement of a deposit of Rs. 30 lakhs and 20 acres of land. This is where his friend and colleague from engineering college, Prof. Prakash Joshi, came in.

Getting Like-Minded People Together:

Dr. Suresh Ghaisas, a leading ENT surgeon from Pune, was a friend of Prof. Prakash Joshi. Dr. Ghaisas’s family owned a large plot of land in the then undeveloped area of Kothrud.

Prof. Joshi introduced Prof. Karad to Dr. Ghaisas and stated his requirement without a moment’s hesitation. Dr. Ghaisas agreed to give away 16 areas of land to Prof. Karad for the establishment of an engineering college. He demanded absolutely nothing in return. It was an act of generosity without parallel.

In the meanwhile, Prof. Karad became acquainted with a leading advocate from Pune, Shri. Bhaskarrao Avhad. Adv. Avhad assured him of all cooperation and legal guidance in the establishment of an engineering college.

As they say in Hindi, दोस्त मिलते गए, कारवां बनता गया! Many more like-minded people joined hands with Prof. Vishwanath Karad Sir. Late Barrister Vitthalrao Gadgil, Late Prof. Shrikrishna J. Bhide, Prof. Vitthalrao Jadhav, Prof. S. M. Garge and many others.

As the possibility of the establishment of an unaided engineering college become stronger, the then principal of COEP, Prof. H. M. Ganesh Rao extended his full support to the cause. All this time, a long-time trusted friend of Prof. Karad, Shri. Sudhakarrao Kulkarni, alias Nana shouldered all administrative responsibilities.

Thus, MAEER was established in May 1983, as a registered charitable / public trust / society. The MAEER Trust had some luminary names as its founding trustees. Apart from Prof. Dr. Vishwanath D. Karad, the others included Prof. H. M. Ganesh Rao, Adv. Bhaskarrao Avhad, Prof. Prakash Joshi, Dr. Suresh G. Ghaisas, Prof. Shrikrishna J. Bhide, Barrister Shri. Vitthalrao Gadgil, Shri. Vitthalrao Jadhav and others.

The unique motto of MAEER was ‘यंत्र तंत्रादि विज्ञानम्‌‍| लोककल्याण साधनम्‌‍|, meaning ‘harnessing science and technology for the well-being of humanity’.

Together, they founded an outstanding educational institute like Maharashtra Institute of Technology (MIT) which became one of the most recognized and sought-after engineering colleges in India.