# Gujarat Vidyapith

23°2′6″N 72°34′6″E﻿ / ﻿23.03500°N 72.56833°E﻿ / 23.03500; 72.56833
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.

## Etymology

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

## History

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
* 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.
| No. | Name | Term of office | Term of office | Term of office | Remarks |
| 1 | Mahatma Gandhi | 18-10-1920 | 30-01-1948 | 27 years, 104 days | Freedom fighter & President of the Indian National Congress (1924–1925) |
| 2 | Vallabhbhai Patel | 14-06-1948 | 15-12-1950 | 2 years, 184 days | Deputy Prime Minister of India (1947–1950) |
| 3 | Dr. Rajendra Prasad | 14-03-1951 | 28-02-1963 | 11 years, 351 days | President of India (1950–1962) |
| 4 | Morarji Desai | 16-06-1963 | 10-04-1995 | 31 years, 298 days | Prime Minister of India (1977–1979) |
| 5 | Prof. Ramlal Parikh | 23-06-1996 | 21-11-1999 | 3 years, 151 days | |
| 6 | Dr. Sushila Nayair | 26-06-2000 | 03-01-2001 | 191 days | Union Minister of Health (1962–1967) |
| 7 | Navinchandra Barot | 26-06-2001 | 01-08-2002 | 1 year, 36 days | |
| 8 | Navalbhai Shah | 04-10-2002 | 15-02-2003 | 134 days | |
| 9 | Ravindra Varma | 18-07-2003 | 09-10-2006 | 3 years, 83 days | Union Minister of Labour & Parliamentary Affairs (1977–1979) |
| 10 | Narayan Desai | 23-07-2007 | 07-03-2015 | 7 years, 227 days | Eminent author |
| 11 | Ela Ramesh Bhatt | 07-03-2015 | 19-10-2022 | 7 years, 211 days | Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha (1986–1988) |
| 12 | Acharya Devvrat | 20-10-2022 | Incumbent | 2 years, 101 days | Governor of Gujarat (2019–Incumbent) |