Hemchandracharya North Gujarat University

The geographical jurisdiction of the North Gujarat University encompasses four districts-Mehsana, Patan, Banaskantha and Sabarkantha. Each one of the four district has its own distinct heritage. Geographically a part of the whole area is towards the desert of Kutchh, while on the North Eastern side are rocky regions of forest populated by the tribal. The economy of the area is mainly agricultural. There are a few towns here and no big city. The rest of the population lives in villages. With a view to catering to the peculiar cultural and educational needs of the area, North Gujarat University was established by the Ordinance No. 5 of 1986 dated 17.5.1986 which was later passed as the North Gujarat University Act No.22 of 1986 on 11/9/86 by the Legislative Assembly of Gujarat. The University has been functioning since then and growing and expanding steadily.

PATAN a town in Patan district, was chosen for the University Headquarter. The historical importance of the place cannot be underestimated. For centuries it had been the capital city of a large kingdom extending far beyond the bounds of present day Gujarat, under the Solanki rulers and a very important seat of Jain scholarship. It is the holy land of Hemchandracharya a great thinker who made valuable contribution to the studies in grammar, literature, religion and philosophy. The RANI-VAV, a great architectural and sculptural monument of yester years, the lakes of Shahastralinga and Khansarovar, the Jain temples of Panchasara and a few other remains in and around the place testify to the glory that was Patan, in not so distant past.

The North Gujarat University was carved out of Gujarat University whose Headquarter is at Ahmedabad. On bifurcation, the North Gujarat University inherited no physical assets from its parent University. It had, therefore, to start its existence ab-initio so far as its local habitation was concerned. PATAN, a historical town in northern part of Gujarat, was officially designated as the Head-Quarter town of the University. The town happens to have composite campus of four affiliated colleges. The managing council of the colleges was kind enough to put at the disposal of the infant University its two hostel buildings on rent to accommodate its offices. Thus began the University to operate and serve 41 colleges scattered over the three erstwhile districts of Banaskantha, Mehsana and Sabarkantha allotted in its jurisdiction. Along with the two hostel buildings the University rented a hall, called the Gandhi Memorial hall, to house its library. The aim was to start building up a nucleus library for the future post-graduate departments of the university. This was an act of foresight of the first functionaries of the University. The University simultaneously moved the State Government to acquire land admeasuring about 185 acres from farmers. It also requested the State Government to transfer its seed farm land admeasuring about 35 acres to the University. However, this entailed considerable delay owing to litigation in the State High Court and then in the Supreme court. Following the supreme court judgment acquisition of the land has been possible. As a result over the years the university has been able to get land as follows. Government land 35.00 acres Land acquired from the farmers 177.50 acres.The university will in due course acquire land admeasuring 7.50 acres from one farmer. Total land available = 212.50 acres. In addition to this the University has also received a property worth Rs.10/- lakhs by way of donation from the Gramodhyog Mandal, Patan. At present the University Employment Bureau is housed in that building. Our proposals to the State Government for further assistance in materializing plans for more constructions in phased manner, are under active consideration.

We are living in the era of parenthesis - a transition period in which there is paradigm shift in all walks of life. The technological, institutional and cultural convergences have made globalization, a reality. In the emerging global scenario, higher education institutions have to play a catalytic role of building the capacities of the youths, in terms of, developing the required traits to make them life-long learners, equipping them for entrepreneurial abilities, and finally, to develop the leadership qualities of responsible citizens. The basic aim is to make them globally competitive.

The University is committed to promote innovations in teaching learning process, cultivate research and development culture, imbibe the knowledge and entrepreneurship, and brings about flexibility in the systems and processes. Our endeavors are directed to inculcate integrated humanism through holistic education and shaping the youths to stand on their own.