Gujarat Vidyapith

23°2′6″N 72°34′6″E

Gujarat Vidyapith
ગૂજરાત વિદ્યાપીઠ
Gujarat Vidyapith Entrance gate
Motto
सा विद्या या विमुक्तये
TypePublic Deemed
Established18 October 1920 (1920-10-18)
FounderMahatma Gandhi
ChancellorAcharya Devvrat[1]
Vice-ChancellorProf.(Dr.) Bharat Joshi
RegistrarDr. Nikhil Bhatt
Address
Gujarat Vidyapeeth Nr. Income Tax Office, Ashram Road, Ahmedabad - 380009
,
Ahmedabad
,
Gujarat
,
India
CampusUrban and Rural
AffiliationsUGC
Websitegujaratvidyapith.ac.in

Gujarat Vidyapith is a deemed university in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. This institute was founded in 1920 by Mahatma Gandhi, India's "Father of the Nation" and the leader of the Indian independence movement. It has been deemed university since 1963.[2]

Etymology

"Vidyapith," in many languages of India, means university.

History
Jawaharlal Nehru during his visit to Gujarat Vidyapith, February 1949

The university was founded on 18 October 1920 as a 'Rashtriya Vidyapith' ('National University') by Mahatma Gandhi, who would serve throughout his life as the kulpati (chancellor) and all needs of Fund collected by sardar Vallabhbhai Patel by his personal relations and capacity.

The Gujarat Vidyapith was started in Dahyabhai Mehta's bungalow behind the Kocharab Ashram (the Kocharab Aashram was started in barrister Jivanlal Desai's bungalow).

Its purpose was to promote educational institutions run by Indians for Indians outside the financial and governing control of British authorities. The university helped nationalists establish a system of education for all Indians, thus proving the country's independence from British-run institutions and de-legitimizing the British Raj. Its foundation was one of the important event of an initiative satyagraha launched by Gandhi as a means to peacefully terminate British rule in India.

The vidyapith's foundation was emulated by nationalists in Benares, Bombay, Calcutta, Nagpur, Madras and in many cities across India. Answering Gandhi's call to boycott British institutions, influences and goods, many thousands of students and teachers left British colleges to join the Vidyapith.

People like Jivatram Kripalani and Nanabhai Bhatt volunteered to teach.

The Gujarat Vidyapith became a 'deemed university' in 1963. It is funded and governed by the University Grants Commission, under the Union Ministry for Human Resources Development in New Delhi. Although considerably modernized in its structure and curriculum, the university maintains its commitment to Gandhian ideals, human studies, social service and development work.

Goals

The institution officially embraced Gandhi's goals as its mission:

  • Adherence to truth and non-violence
  • Participation in productive work with a sense of dignity of labour
  • Acceptance of equality of religions
  • Priority for the needs of village dwellers in all curricula and
  • Use of mother-tongue as a medium of instructions

Central facilities and administration

The university offers a wide range of degrees, including Ph.D. programs and doctoral studies. Institute's central library has grown over the years to become one of the richest repositories of books, journals and manuscripts in Gujarat. As of March 2022, central library has a collection of 5,93,533 books, 252 journals, 17 newspapers and 691 manuscripts. Institute has 7 boys hostels and 3 girls hostels. It continues to emphasize social service, Gandhian studies and subjects associated with religion and culture.

List of chancellors of Gujarat Vidyapith

The following have held the post of the Chancellor of Gujarat Vidyapith.[3]

No. Name Portrait Term of office Remarks
1 Mahatma Gandhi 18-10-1920 30-01-1948 27 years, 104 days
2 Vallabhbhai Patel 14-06-1948 15-12-1950 2 years, 184 days
3 Dr. Rajendra Prasad 14-03-1951 28-02-1963 11 years, 351 days
4 Morarji Desai 16-06-1963 10-04-1995 31 years, 298 days
5 Professor Ramlal Parikh 23-06-1996 21-11-1999 3 years, 151 days
6 Dr. Sushila Nayair 26-06-2000 03-01-2001 191 days
7 Shree Navinchandra Barot 26-06-2001 01-08-2002 1 year, 36 days
8 Shree Navalbhai Shah 04-10-2002 15-02-2003 134 days
9 Ravindra Varma 18-07-2003 09-10-2006 3 years, 83 days
10 Narayan Desai 23-07-2007 07-03-2015 7 years, 227 days
11 Shree Ela Ramesh Bhatt 07-03-2015 04-10-2022 7 years, 211 days
12 Acharya Devvrat

References
  1. "Governor Acharya Devvrat accepts invitation, will be Gujarat Vidyapith's 12th Chancellor". The Indian Express. 12 October 2022. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
  2. "Welcome to Gujarat Vidyapith - Ahmedabad". www.gujaratvidyapith.org.
  3. "Chancellors of Gujarat Vidyapith". Gujarat Vidyapith. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
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