Vallabh Vidhyanagar

Vallabh Vidhyanagar is a town and a municipality in Anand district in the Indian state of Gujarat. It is located between Ahmedabad and Vadodara, 6 km from the town of Anand.

History

With the establishment of Charutar Vidya Mandal^[1] followed by the establishment of Sardar Patel University,^[2] the town founded by Shri Bhaikaka and Shri Bhikhabhai Saheb of Karamsad with the blessings of the iron-man Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, a leader of the Indian Independence movement and the first home minister of India. The reason of foundation of the University and the town was to spread the Education in the Rural Areas of Gujarat. Both the town and the Sardar Patel University (SPU) are named in honor of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. The town is also known as V.V. Nagar.

Initially developed as an educational township, as the name suggests Vidya means Knowledge and Nagar means Town in Gujarati.

Education

Besides 24 University Postgraduate Departments, Vallabh Vidyanagar (also known as VV Nagar) has many Charitable Trusts running colleges, affiliated to the Sardar Patel University. The oldest of these is CVM (Charutar Vidya Mandal). With the new dimension of disciplines emerging, CVM also expanded to the New Vallabh Vidyanagar. The University has been the strongest candidate for becoming the only Central University in Gujarat. In fact, many departments boast to be on the National and International Map in their subjects. The University was the first in Gujarat to volunteer for accreditation by NAAC,^[3] (National Assessment and Accreditation Council), and in 2001 SPU was rated four star by NAAC. The University has attracted a significant number of foreigners to enroll in various programmes including BBA, BCA, MCA, MBA, M-EB, Engg, Medical, M.Sc., Ph.D. etc.

Some specialities of Vallabh Vidyanagar are:

• A University named after Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the First Home Minister of India.
• A Regional Library in Mathematics catering to the needs of the Western Region of India set up by the NBHM (National Board for Higher Mathematics),^[4] Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India.
• Charutar Vidya Mandal that had a former Finance Minister Late Shri H.M. Patel, as its President.
• The town that had a municipality president who would once become a Finance Minister.
• A University that has an FM Radio Station (there are only two such universities in India having their own Radio Stations as of September 2005)
• The University that is covered under the Edusat, a UGC Scheme of Nationwide Live Lectures using a satellite.
• Has the oldest engineering college, Birla Vishwakarma Mahavidyalaya. This was inaugurated by Lord Mountbatten of Burma.
• Vidyanagar Nature Club,^[5] working since 1988 for environment education, awareness & protection,a leading NGO in Anand district & is registered Public Charitable Trust. is located in Vallabh Vidyanagar and is responsible for well protected Trees, and its pollution free atmosphere.
• V V Nagar has more than 80 species of Trees planted on road side, has perhaps highest numbers of trees in the state of Gujarat in such a small area.
• Town has largest colony (habitat) of Rose ringed Parakeet, (Suda) last count was in 2003-4 was of more than 63,000 parakeets, in Vallabh Vidyanagar
• Satyam Rai the son of the late Pandit Vasant Rai was for 3 years a resident of Vallabh Vidyanagar. It was there where he partly constructed the worlds largest flute. Satyams flute holds the Guinness and Limca world records.
• Gunatit Jyot the women wing of the Gunatit Samaj is based in Vallabh Vidyanagar. Under guidance from P.P.Papaji
• First Educational Website of the Town vvnLive.com

Demographics

As of 2001^[update] India census,^[6] Vallabh Vidhyanagar had a population of 29,260. Males constitute 56% of the population and females 44%. Vallabh Vidhyanagar has an average literacy rate of 83%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 88%, and female literacy is 77%. In Vallabh Vidhyanagar, 8% of the population is under 6 years of age.

References

[1]