The Gujarat Vidyapith is a major university

University

A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...

 located in Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad also known as Karnavati is the largest city in Gujarat, India. It is the former capital of Gujarat and is also the judicial capital of Gujarat as the Gujarat High Court has its seat in Ahmedabad...

, in the state of Gujarat in India

India

India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

. It was founded in 1920 by Mohandas Gandhi, the leader of the Indian independence movement

Indian independence movement

The term Indian independence movement encompasses a wide area of political organisations, philosophies, and movements which had the common aim of ending first British East India Company rule, and then British imperial authority, in parts of South Asia...

. "Vidyapith", in many languages of India

Languages of India

The languages of India belong to several language families, the major ones being the Indo-European languages—Indo-Aryan and the Dravidian languages...

, means "University."

Foundation

The university was founded on October 18, 1920 as the Rashtriya Vidyapith (National University) by Mohandas Gandhi, who would serve throughout his life as the Kula-pati, or chancellor. The purpose of its establishment was to promote educational institutions run by Indians for Indians and outside the financial and governing control of British authorities. The university helped Indian nationalists establish a system of education for all Indians, thus proving the country's independence from British-run institutions, and so de-legitimizing British Raj

British Raj

British Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...

 in India. The foundation of the university was one of the first most important events in the initiative of satyagraha

Satyagraha

Satyagraha , loosely translated as "insistence on truth satya agraha soul force" or "truth force" is a particular philosophy and practice within the broader overall category generally known as nonviolent resistance or civil resistance. The term "satyagraha" was conceived and developed by Mahatma...

 launched by Gandhi as a means to peacefully terminate British rule in India.

The Vidyapith's foundation was emulated by nationalists in Benares

Varanasi

-Etymology:The name Varanasi has its origin possibly from the names of the two rivers Varuna and Assi, for the old city lies in the north shores of the Ganga bounded by its two tributaries, the Varuna and the Asi, with the Ganges being to its south...

, Bombay, Calcutta, Nagpur

Nagpur

Nāgpur is a city and winter capital of the state of Maharashtra, the largest city in central India and third largest city in Maharashtra after Mumbai and Pune...

, 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. Men like Jivatram Kripalani

Jivatram Kripalani

Acharya Jivatram Bhagwandas Kripalani was an Indian politician, noted particularly for holding the presidency of the Indian National Congress during the transfer of power in 1947. During the election for the post of the future Prime Minister of India held by the Congress party, he had the second...

 — soon to become a distinguished political leader — volunteered to teach. 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 need of villages dwellers in all curricula and
• Use of mother-tongue as a medium of instructions.

Modern university

After India's independence, the Gujarat Vidyapith became a deemed university in 1963, and it is funded and governed by the University Grants Commission, under the Union Ministry for Human Resources Development in New Delhi

New Delhi

New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...

. Although considerably modernized in its structure and curriculum, the university maintains its commitment to Gandhian ideals, human studies, social service and development work.

Colleges

The colleges and institutions affiliated with the university are:

• Hindi Teacher Training College, Ahmedabad
• Mahadevbhai Desai Gramseva Mahavidyalaya, Radheja
• Mahadevbhai Desai College, Sadara
• Mahadevbhai Desai Sharirik Shikshan Mahavidyalaya (College of Physical Education), Sadara

The university offers a wide range of degrees, including Ph.D programs and doctorate studies. It continues to emphasize social service, Gandhian studies and subjects associated with religion, human studies, culture and public service.

Departments and centres

• 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 (Agriculture Science Centre)
• P. G. Centre 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, Sadra
• Bio Gas Research Center, Sadra [Offering M.Phil., M.Sc. (2 years), B.Sc. (3 years) in Microbiology]
• Panchayati Raj Talim Kendra
• Computer Science Department [Offering two fulltime cources - MCA(3 years) and PGDCA(1 year)]