Maniben Nanavati Women’s College is the dream child of two dynamic and farsighted women – late Smt. Kantaben Shah (1916-1981) and late Smt. Sunitaben Sheth (1924-2012), the erstwhile Chairperson of the Managing Committee. Both of them hailed from aristocratic Guajarati business families fully devoted to the cause of welfare and upliftment of the community in their immediate surroundings. As active members of the Bhagini Seva Mandir Kumarika Stree Mandal (BSMKSM), Vile Parle –West, Mumbai, both of them kept up to the main mission of the Mandal- the welfare and empowerment of women. The foundation stone of the BSMKSM was laid by Mahatma Gandhi, the beloved Bapu. Following the footsteps of Gandhiji’s efforts in educating and empowering women, they started the Nootan Mahila College in 1972 under the aegis of BSMKSM with a small number of 110 students. In 1978, Shree Chandulal Nanavati Women’s Institute and Girls’ High School, an educational trust took over the administration of the College and rechristened it with the present name.
With the introduction of the 10-2-3 system of education, a junior college was started in June 1976. It was named Tapiben Chhaganlal Lalji Valia Junior College in June 1979. The same year, the College received permanent affiliation from the SNDT Women’s University, Mumbai. The college remain affiliated to same University till date.