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 17.5.2025 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.
INFRASTRUCTURE FACILITIES
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
