Ujjain, the city where Lord Krishna received his education at Sandipini Ashram, served as the initial capital of the Scindia Marathas. Additionally, the first girls’ school in the Scindia State was founded in this city in 1897. The Scindias maintained the Gurukul of Shri Krishna and established numerous educational institutions within their territories, which were roughly equivalent in size to the combined areas of Belgium and the Netherlands.

In 1897, the late Shri Bapuji Narayan Dhekne MA, Principal of Madhav College, inaugurated the first girls’ school in Ujjain, enrolling 50 girls. A distinguished and knowledgeable woman, Maharani Baizabai Scindia, had a significant connection to Ujjain, making it particularly noteworthy that the foundations of women’s advancement were laid in this city. In the following year, Maharaja Madho Rao Scindia personally visited the school and motivated the girls by presenting them with prizes himself.

In the year 1810, Gwalior was designated as the capital of the Scindia dominions. Subsequently, in 1898, a girls’ school was founded in the Lashkar area of this city. Remarkably, it advanced rapidly, garnering the admiration of Maharaja Madho Rao Scindia, who graciously visited the institution on his birthday. He continued to visit for many years, encouraging the girls by presenting them with prizes. The school was named Maharani’s Girls School in honour of Maharani Scindia’s deep commitment to women’s education. During the inauguration, the Maharaja stated, “It is the duty of every common man to spread education in this state."

In its second year, Maharani Chinkuraje Scindia contributed financially to the school, an act that was widely regarded as exemplary by the public, leading to increased attention towards women’s education. In 1901, a dedicated section for managing girls’ schools was established within the Education Department, which subsequently took over the school’s administration. By........

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