MUMBAI, April 25 -- A 178-year-old Marathi-medium girls' high school in Mumbai, founded by visionary reformers including Jagannath Sunkersett, is struggling to survive, reflecting wider shifts in the city's social fabric and education policies. Once regarded as a cornerstone of women's education, the Students Literary and Scientific Society School (SL & SS Girls), located in Thakurdwar in Girgaon, now faces an uncertain future. The institution operates from a building that is over a century old, and its management has made an emotional appeal to citizens and the government to help preserve its legacy. The society that runs the school was established in 1848 by prominent reformers such as Dadabhai Naoroji, Bhau Daji Lad, Jagannath Sunkersett, Justice K T Telang, Raosaheb Madlik and Raobahadur Narayan Dinanath Velkar. Their goal was to empower women through education at a time when opportunities for girls were extremely limited. Today, however, many of the school's classrooms lie empty, and laboratories that once bustled with activity have fallen silent. A steady decline in student enrolment has created a cascading effect. Vrinda Bhagwat, a retired principal and current chairperson of the society, said the school had around 1,200 students until the 2018-19 academic year. Since then, demographic changes in Girgaon, including the migration of Marathi-speaking families, have led to a sharp drop in admissions. At present, only 68 students remain. Bhagwat said the management has attempted to adapt to changing circumstances. In 2022, the school was converted into a co-educational institution. Earlier, in 2015, a proposal to introduce an English-medium section was submitted, but it was rejected by the government on the grounds that several English-medium schools already existed within a one-kilometre radius. "We tried very hard to bring in more students," Bhagwat said, noting that teacher numbers have also declined significantly. Informal discussions are now underway between the school management and state education department officials about shifting students to other institutions and potentially shutting the school, a prospect that has deeply distressed those associated with it. The fall in enrolment has mirrored a drop in teaching staff. From 20 to 25 teachers in 2014-15, the number has dwindled to just six, including the principal. This figure is expected to reduce further due to the state's policy of maintaining one teacher for every 20 students. Despite these challenges, the school continues to uphold its long-standing traditions. It still awards honours such as the Lady Frier and Sayajirao Gaikwad prizes, dating back to the British era, to meritorious students. The institution also supports students from economically weaker backgrounds by providing free meals, school bags and other essentials. However, some students lack Aadhaar cards, creating hurdles in enrolling them in systems like UDISE+. Bhagwat suggested that the government introduce incentive schemes similar to Ladki Bahin to encourage families to opt for Marathi-medium education. For alumni, the school's decline is a source of deep emotional pain. Mrudula Chikhalikar, 80, and great-granddaughter of Sunkersett, recalled her years at the institution. She completed her primary education in a Jagannath Sunkersett Marathi school before joining this school in 1953. "This school gave me everything," she said, adding that the sight of empty classrooms and a quiet campus saddens her. At 93, Surendra Sunkersett, great-grandson of Jagannath Sunkersett, continues to work as a trustee and remains committed to saving the institution. He described such schools as "living history" and warned that their disappearance would erase an important part of Mumbai's heritage. He proposed that the government recognise them as heritage institutions and extend support, including through corporate social responsibility initiatives. Former students also recall the school's academic strength. Archana Thite, an alumna and former professor at KC College, praised former principal Kamalabai Vaidya, who served for 33 years and played a key role in shaping the school's identity during a period when students consistently excelled in board examinations. The school building itself is historically significant. Trustee Prakash Chikhalikar said regular structural audits have indicated the need for repairs, but financial constraints persist. "We want this legacy to survive," he said, adding that fund-raising efforts are ongoing....