Gujarat Vidyapith is a deemed university in

Ahmedabad Ahmedabad ( ; Gujarati: Amdavad ) is the most populous city in the Indian state of Gujarat. It is the administrative headquarters of the Ahmedabad district and the seat of the Gujarat High Court. Ahmedabad's population of 5,570,585 (per t ...

, Gujarat, India. It was founded in 1920 by Mahatma Gandhi, the leader of the Indian independence movement, and deemed a university in 1963.

Etymology

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

History

Jawaharlal Nehru during his visit to Gujarat Vidyapeeth, 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 Satyagraha ( sa, सत्याग्रह; ''satya'': "truth", ''āgraha'': "insistence" or "holding firmly to"), or "holding firmly to truth",' or "truth force", is a particular form of nonviolent resistance or civil resistance. Someone w ...

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 Chennai (, ), formerly known as Madras ( the official name until 1996), is the capital city of Tamil Nadu, the southernmost Indian state. The largest city of the state in area and population, Chennai is located on the Coromandel Coast of th ...

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 Jivatram Bhagwandas Kripalani (11 November 1888 – 19 March 1982), popularly known as Acharya Kripalani, was an Indian politician, noted particularly for holding the presidency of the Indian National Congress during the transfer of power in 1 ...

and

Nanabhai Bhatt Nanabhai Bhatt (12 June 1915 – 24 April 1999) was an Indian film director and producer who worked in Hindi and Gujarati cinema. He is known for making over a hundred fantasy and mythological films, including ''Mr. X'' (1957), ''Zimbo Comes t ...

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

Organisation and administration

Colleges

The colleges and institutions with the university are *Shikshan Vidyashakha (College of Education), Ahmedabad *Hindi Teacher Training College, Ahmedabad *Mahadevbhai Desai Gramseva Mahavidyalaya, Radheja *Mahadevbhai Desai Gramseva Mahavidyalaya (College), Sadara *Mahadevbhai Desai Sharirik Shikshan Mahavidyalaya (College of Physical Education), Sadara *Center for Rural Management, Randheja The university offers a wide range of degrees, including Ph.D. programs and doctoral studies. It continues to emphasize social service, Gandhian studies and subjects associated with religion, human studies, culture and public service.

Departments and centres

*Department of History and Culture (offers full-time courses: M.A., M.Phil. and Ph.D.) *Tribal Research & Training Institute (TRTI) *Hindi Prachar Samiti (Hindi Bhavan) *Bharatiya Bhasha Sanskruti Kendra *Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Studies in Ahimsa (Peace Research Institute) *Department of Adult and Continuing Education & Extension Work including Population Education *State Resource Centre (SRC) for Adult & Continuing Education including Population Education *Gujarat Vidyapith Library (Gandhi Bhavan) *Publication Department *Rural Service Extension Centre *Krishi Vigyan Kendras ** Krishi Vigyan Kendra - Randheja (Gandhinagar) (Agriculture Science Centre) *P.G. Center for Studies in Rural Management at village Randheja *International Centre for Jain Studies at Ahmedabad campus *Centre for Bio-gas Research Education & Extension at Sadra *Instrumentation Centre at village Sadra (Level-I) and Mobile Vocational Training Centre *Late Jankidevi Bajaj Centre for Naturopathy, Randheja *Bio Gas Research Center, Sadra ffers Ph.D., M.Phil., M.Sc. (2 years), B.Sc. (3 years) in MicrobiologyB.voc food processing technology (3 year) *Panchayati Raj Talim Kendra *Computer Science Department ffers two full-time courses: MCA (3 years) and PGDCA (1 year)

List of Chancellors of Gujarat Vidyapith

The following have held the post of the Chancellor of Gujarat Vidyapith.

References

{{authority control Gujarat in Indian independence movement Universities and colleges in Ahmedabad 1920 establishments in India Educational institutions established in 1920