By Nazeer Ahemd Kazi
Dr. Shamsuddin Abdullah Punekar passed away on 13/1/2026. He was founder of Secab, a Group of 26 educational institutions. He established English, Kannada and Urdu medium schools, pre-University and degree colleges in humanities and modern sciences exclusively for women, polytechnic college, engineering degree College, nursing College, Unani medical College, Architecture College and Law College.
Dr S.A. Punekar began learning the philosophy of life through his struggles and pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering in Pune Engineering College. He first worked as an Assistant Engineer, then went to Bhilai Steel Plant but gave up lucrative jobs and returned to Bijapur. He involved himself in socio- economic activities. In 1950s, Bijapur was a socio-economically poor region. He set up an English medium school in Bijapur and laid the foundation stone for the socio-economic development of Bijapur.
Dr Punekar realised the plight of women in Bijapur and established a clothing and embroidery centre in 1969-70. He established the first PU College for Women in 1972. He then founded a Degree College for Women in 1974. His vision of empowering women made him restless and he took the initiation and pleaded the government to establish finally a separate Akkmahadevi Women’s University established in the city.
Dr Punekar brought a revolutionary change in initiating the learning of Basic Mathematics in PU College and first language English in Urdu and Kannada medium high schools, and Arabic & Sanskrit as third language from class VI to VIII.
Karnataka Urdu Academy Bangalore awarded him with best educational institute for the year 2012. He started even an orphanage in Bijapur. He found out ways to provide employment and started job-oriented courses like CCT, automobile and lab technicians, interior design and landscaping, tailoring and embroidery as vocational studies. He thus established the Malik Sandal Polytechnic and Paramedical Institute of Medical Sciences. He established the first architecture college in Bijapur. He launched Bijapur chapter of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage–INTACH.
In recognition of his works for the society, Dr SA Punekar was awarded Mohisin-e-Millat Award by Aligarh Muslim University, Lifetime Achievement Award by AMP, Nishan-e-Gracious award by GESCO, Sholapur, Lifetime Achievement Award by the Bahmani foundation of Kalburgi, Lifetime Achievement Award by Shaheen Group of institutions Bidar, Honorary Doctorate by Rani Channamma University, Belgaum. May his soul rest in peace.
[The writer is a Professor at Secab, Vijaypur]
