On the far edge of Wai, where the Satara hills slope towards the Wai–Panchgani road, a two-acre mango orchard stands beside the boys’ hostel of Kisan Veer Mahavidyalaya.
In May, the grove fills with the fragrance of ripening fruit. Pairi lends its sharp tang to the air, Hapus brings its signature sweetness, and Lalbagh carries the comforting aroma of traditional kitchens.
But this orchard is more than a collection of mango trees.
This season, it generated nearly Rs 1 lakh for the college. More importantly, it has become a source of support for students from farming families who have faced severe hardship, helping fund education and opportunities that might otherwise have remained out of reach.
A college rooted in service
Run by Janata Shikshan Sanstha (JSS), Kisan Veer Mahavidyalaya was established in 1962 as an Arts and Commerce college and was later named after freedom fighter Abasaheb Veer.
Today, it offers courses in Arts, Commerce, Science and Computer Applications, along with postgraduate programmes in Marathi, English, Commerce and Organic Chemistry.
A view of the mango orchard
Around 1990, Prof Dattatray Waghchavare, then the NSS project officer, envisioned transforming a spare patch of land into something meaningful. With support from the late Prataprao Bhosale, students planted mango saplings through shramdan (voluntary labour).
What began as a plantation has since grown into one of the college’s defining features.
Birds nest in its branches, borewells sustain its roots, and the orchard now contributes the institution’s highest carbon credits.
“This orchard is more than a grove with 180 mango trees,” says Principal Dr Gurunath Fagare. “It is a sanctuary where a hope carefully planted has matured into memory, ecology and enterprise. Its upkeep rests entirely in the hands of our adopted students, many of whom come from Osmanabad, Beed, Latur, across Marathwada, and even Nashik.”
When a harvest becomes a lifeline
Since 2016–17, the institution has extended support to students from bereaved farming families in Marathwada and Vidarbha, regions that have been deeply affected by debt and crop failures.
Without relying on government grants, the college provides free education through its own resources. So far, around 80 students have benefited from the initiative, completing their education without bearing the financial burden themselves.
The orchard has become an important part of this larger effort.
Kisan Veer College
While its earnings are modest, they contribute towards scholarships, campus improvements and student welfare initiatives. Every successful harvest helps strengthen the support system available to students from vulnerable backgrounds.
From struggling orchard to steady income
The orchard’s journey was not always easy.
In its early years, there was no boundary wall. Fruit was often lost to cattle and theft, and annual earnings rarely crossed Rs 25,000. Most of the produce was sold internally to staff members.
Still, the trees were cared for year after year by students, hostel staff and faculty members.
Today, under the guidance of Prof Dr Amol Kavade from the Marathi department, the orchard has become far more productive.
“Passion and patience are the true fertilisers,” he says.
Today, under the guidance of Prof Dr Amol Kavade from the Marathi department, the orchard has become far more productive.
This season alone, the orchard generated nearly Rs 1 lakh through the sale of mangoes, including around 450 dozen Hapus and 250 dozen Kesar, along with smaller quantities of Pairi, Lalbagh and local varieties.
A classroom beneath the trees
For many students, the orchard is also a place of learning.
Those involved in its upkeep gain hands-on experience in grafting, composting, soil management and organic farming practices. They learn not only how to grow crops, but also how to manage resources, work collectively and turn agricultural produce into income.
Hostel residents take responsibility for harvesting and selling the mangoes, giving them practical exposure to both farming and entrepreneurship.
For students who come from agricultural backgrounds, these lessons often feel especially relevant.
A second chance through education
Among those whose lives have been touched by the initiative is Somnath Sanap.
“I come from Hivarsinga village in Shirur Kasar, Beed district,” says the 27-year-old.
“My grandfather, Bhanudas Sathwaji Sanap, carried the responsibility of our entire family. My parents never had the opportunity to study, and we survived through manual labour. We owned three acres of farmland, but without water it generated no income. In 2015, burdened by debt and family responsibilities, my grandfather took his own life. I joined Kisan Veer College in 2017 and was given free education.”
For Somnath, the support extended far beyond tuition.
Students from families affected by farmer suicides were provided accommodation, education and medical support whenever required. Former students recall that from admission until graduation, they did not have to spend a single rupee of their own.
Today, after completing a master’s degree in Chemistry, Somnath has registered for a PhD at Shivaji University. He has also returned to teach at the same college that supported him.
The orchard anchors campus life. It connects learning with eco-friendly farming and reminds us that education extends far beyond classrooms.
His journey reflects the larger impact of the institution’s efforts.
A story that keeps growing
For Dr Anand Ghorpade, Head of the Psychology Department and a member of the College Development Committee, the orchard represents much more than agriculture.
“It began as an experiment,” he says. “Today, it anchors campus life. It connects learning with eco-friendly farming and reminds us that education extends far beyond classrooms.”
Students feel the same sense of ownership.
“When we prune the trees or stand watch over the orchard at dusk, we are not just caretakers,” says Vaibhav Ramchandra Tirgune, a 23-year-old second-year MCom student and hostel resident. “We are carrying forward a story that began before us.”
Each season adds a new chapter. Trees deepen their roots, students graduate and move forward, harvests support educational initiatives, and the orchard continues to provide opportunities for young people from farming families.
In Wai, the mango grove stands as a quiet example of how education, agriculture and community support can grow together — proving that sometimes, the fruits of a harvest extend far beyond the trees themselves.
