The school was established by the Maharashtra Girls Education Society in 1885. The school's founders included noted social reformers Vaman Abaji Modak, Justice Ranade and historian Dr. R. G. Bhandarkar. The subjects taught in the school from founding were English literature, arithmetics and science. The establishment of the school and its curriculum were vehemently opposed by Lokmanya Tilak in his newspapers, the Mahratta and Kesari. In 1887, the ruler of the Princely state of Sangli, Tatyasaheb Patwardhan, offered land on Laxmi road in Pune, where the high school is based. The girls' hostel and the elementary school were established later on the same campus. The school has offered a boarding option for out-of-town students for more than a century. The school and the boarding option were popular among the Bene Israel community in the early part of the 20th century. Notable boarders of school include Anandibai Karve and actress Reema Lagu. In the 1990s, MGE started a new branch of the school in the Pune suburb of Katraj. It started with pre-school and gradually extended to include high school and Higher secondary school respectively.
Academics
The school is officially called the HHCP Girls High School in honor of Tatyasaheb Patwardhan's father, the Maharaja, His Highness Chintamanrao Patwardhan of Sangli. Huzurpaga is located in the main commercial area of Laxmi Road in Pune. The school location was historically used as horse stables for the Maratha Cavalry during the days of Peshwa rule. The school opened its second branch at Katraj. In 2001, the MGE Society established a senior college of commerce exclusively for girls called Huzurpaga Mahila Vanijya Mahavidyalaya. At present, the school offers instruction from grades 5 to 10 to nearly 2,400 girls. The school's medium of instruction is mainly Marathi with some students being offered the chance to learn science and maths through the English language. The latter option is called semi-English curriculum. In the S.S.C. exams conducted by the Maharashtra government for 10th grade students, the school consistently achieves a pass rate in the high 90s percentage.
Notable alumni
Anandibai Karve - Was a boarder with her son in 1890s after her second marriage to social reformerMaharshi Karve and birth of their son
Kashibai Herlekar - Social reformer, educationalist and writer
Rebecca Reuben - Bene Israel educationalist - Miss Reuben also taught at the school for three years.
