About Subhedar Wada GEI's High School in Subhedar Wada, Gandhi Chowk, Kalyan

The term 'Subhedar Wada' means a small palace of the Governor. Subhedar Wada is a famous ancient building which was once residence of Governor of Kalyan. The building, having been built in midst of 18th century stood erect for 231 years and was demolished in Sept. 2000. The 'Subhedar Wada' was not just an historical palace for citizens of Kalyan city but it was far more.

In the 18th century the 'Wada' served as merely a residential building of Subhedar Biwalkar, Governor of Kalyan under Maratha Kingdom spread in the the states, currently known as Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujrat.

In 1890s Mrs. Go. Na. Akshikar - a disciple of Lokmanya Tikak - started the first British Govt. recognized school in Kalyan named General Education Institute's High School in this Subhedar Wada building. The Institute later bought the wada from Biwalkar family and is still owner of the land. Since then the school also is known as Subhedar Wada.

Along with the school, it has also been center of play theatre in Kalyan. The celebration of Ganpati Festival in Subhedar Wada is not only famous but also prestigious to Kalyan. Almost four generations of Kalyan Citizens received their education through the school with its trained and highly experienced teachers.

The building was not an ordinary architecture, it was an ancient architecture present in List of Ancient Artifacts of State Govt. of Maharashtra.. It was typical Peshwa style Marathi architecture of 17th century with a large open space in the middle called 'chowk' and a very huge door of height about 15 ft. The Subhedar Wada had two such large chowks and two large doors. The 'Ganesh mahal' - the front end of the building was carved and sculptured skillfully, the windows carved in wood with various designs.

In 2001, conservationists were spurred to action by the destruction of the 231-year-old Subhedar Wada, built by Peshwa Subhedar Ramji Bhiwalkar known as the architect of Kalyan. The grand structure was built to withstand conquerors but got steamrolled by a road-widening project in early 2000. Subhedar Wada, once a pride of Kalyan, has unexpectedly turned into memories for Kalyankar Citizens.