The revolutionary thought of Mahatma Jyotirao Phule ‘There is no other alternative but education for social change’ created an awareness about education in the common masses of Maharashtra. The same thought was pursued by the great thinkers and reformers like, His Highness Rajashree Shahu Maharaj, His Highness Shrimant Sayajirao Gaikwad Maharaj, Maharshee Vitthal Ramji Shinde, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar,  Karmveer Dr  Bhaurao Patil, Dr. Punjabrao Deshmukh and others.

All those Social Activists and Educationists were great visionaries who firmly believed that unless the channels of education, from pre-primary to higher level, are opened, the light of knowledge will not reach the doors of the rural masses. The followers of this belief were Karmveer Raosaheb Thorat, Karmveer Ganpatdada More, D.R. Bhosale and others who initiated the task of spreading education by starting ‘Udoji Maratha Hostel’ in 1914. It was a significant beginning of the future widespread Maratha Vidya Prasarak Samaj. In 1913, All India Maratha Education Conference was organized in Nashik where His Highness Shreemant Udojirao Pawar of Dhar Residency donated Rs. 10,000/- as the seed funding that strengthened the very foundation of the Institution.

In order to stabilize the work of the Institution, His Highness started a grant of Rs. 2,000/- per annum. Rajashree Shahu Maharaj donated Rs.15, 000/-, Shreemant Sayajirao Gaikwad Maharaj donated Rs.12000/-, His Highness Shreemant Madhavrao Maharaj of Gwalior Residency donated Rs. 10000/-.  The then industrialist,  Pandurang Javaji Chaudhari of Bombay donated Rs. 3000/- so as to enable the Institution to expand its educational work. “Bahujan Hitaya, Bahujan Sukhaya” (for the Welfare and Happiness of the common Masses) is the motto of the Institution. To follow this motto, the social workers like Shankarrao Kadam Kanaladkar, Bhausaheb Hiray, Kakasaheb Wagh, Annasaheb Murkute came forward. The institution gained name and fame in a short time due to its well organized and disciplined planning implementing various educational schemes.  Various donors and social workers belonging to various places generously helped the institution so that this small plant of the institution began to flourish and blossom. It did not take a long time to transform from a small sapling into a huge banyan tree.

MVP Samaj manages more than 340 educational & professional institutions. The spectrum of educational institution encompasses Primary Schools, Secondary Schools, Junior Colleges, Graduate & Postgraduate conventional Colleges, Professional & Vocational Colleges, the College of Engineering, the College of Architecture, Medical College and Research Centre, College of Educations and ITI Training schools. The total strength of students is over 1, 77,344.

The year 1964 was celebrated as the Golden Jubilee year. The year 2014 was celebrated as the centenary. The qualitative and quantitative sky rocketing development of the Institution is simply spectacular. The contribution and devotion of ex-officials and in-officials as well as the members of the Managing Council have made this possible. The Government of Maharashtra honoured the Institution by giving State Award to honour its educational and social work. Recently Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University, Nashik praised the institution by offering  ‘Punjabrao Deshmukh Award.’ Maratha Vidya Prasarak Samaj organized 78th Akhil Baratiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan in the spacious campus of the Samaj in 2004.