Bhaikaka and Bhikhakaka led the foundation of Vallabh Vidhyanagar which is now considered as the educational hub of Gujarat. They dreamt of building a city that can provide the world class education, advanced agriculture and spread Indian cultural values and thus the name Vallabh Vidhyanagar. There are around 24 university postgraduate departments under the supervision of Charotar Vidhyamandal , the oldest organization in the region to manage the institutions. All Institutions in Vallabh Vidhyanagar were affiliated to Sardar Patel university but these days some of them are affiliated to Gujarat Technological University.
The Beginning
It is said that once upon in a meeting with Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, He advised Bhaikaka to focus on enhancing the lives of rural people by reaching out to their doorstep and listening their problems as it was time of agricultural crisis. On March 28,1945, It was decided to draw and implement the plan of planting an educational township. He got in touch with Shri Bhikhabhai Kuberbhai Patel an educationist sharing same vision and ideology.
Bhaikaka and Bhikhabhai worked out an ingenious scheme based on enlightened self-interest. They persuaded the farmers to donate their land free of cost, by saying if they can donate their land now and they will develop and use two-thirds and return the remaining one-third in course of time. To a surprise, total of 555 acres of land at the intersection of Bakrol, Karamsad and Anand was received in donation. The concept of establishing institutions of higher education started taking shape. Based on local talent and local resources City is a peerless example of self-reliance and dedication.
Sardar Patel University
Initially there were 5 engineering colleges affiliated to Sardar Patel University. Couple of them in recent past have become deemed universities and others part of GTU. Among them, Birla Vishwakarma MahaVidhyalaya engineering college is one of the oldest and reputed engineering college in the Gujarat founded in 1948. It was first engineering college in Vallabh Vidhyanagar and was inaugurated by Lord Mountbatten of Burma. Institution has produced many veterans in varied domains. There are numbers of Primary and higher secondary schools in the city. There are around 87 colleges that includes B-Schools, Commerce, Arts, Architecture, Economics, Engineering science and Aeronautics with 31 PG courses available to excel in.
The Youth Corridor
It is the first city where the number of students coming from other cities are much more than permanent residents. You will find Hostels, Colleges, Canteens, Restaurants, Fashion outlet in each corner. The average age of the person residing in Vallabh Vidhyangar is 20 making it the youth city of state. Technical Festivals and Youth Festivals are organized round the year in which colleges participate and bring out the innovation and keep up the energy of the city. The atmosphere is so lively and mesmerizing that you will ever forget in your entire life.
The Green City
It is the greenest city in the state after Gandhinagar. Well!! the Trees in the city said to have their own names. As published on Times of India article, Trees here got Geo-Tagged by a NGO. Bhaikaka, Ihe man with green thumb, planted a thousand trees. It is to him that City owe the lush-green, stately, shady trees all along the roads in Vallabh Vidyanagar. V V Nagar has more than 80 species of trees planted on roadside which perhaps is highest number in the state of Gujarat in such a small area.
Glimpse of Vallabh Vidhyanagar
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