In this age of technology when our everyday lives depend on the internet, there is an organisation that teaches people to stick to their culture and lead a simple lifestyle. Established by Mahatma Gandhi, Gujarat Vidyapith, still follows his principles with an aim to strengthen the roots of indigenous education.

Established by Gandhi on October 18, 1920 in Ahmedabad, the purpose was to promote educational institutions that are run by Indians for Indians. Gandhi understood that the purpose of Britain’s colonial education policy, created by Thomas Babington Macaulay, was to prepare human resources for the oppressive British Empire. He, on the contrary, wanted to prepare the youth for nation’s development and self rule.

The establishment of this school was followed up by similar institutes in Varanasi, Mumbai, Calcutta, Nagpur, Madras. Thousands of students and teachers left British educational institutions and started studying in these schools after Gandhi asked Indians to boycott British institutions and goods. Many eminent people such as Jeevatram Kripalani and Nanabhai Bhatt came forward to teach.

Gandhi was the first vice-chancellor of the Vidyapith, followed by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Dr Rajendra Prasad, Morarji Desai. In 1963, the Government of India gave it honorary university status.

On the birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation, here are some interesting facts about the Vidyapith:

Gandhiji always believed people should lead a simple life as it benefits the individual as well as others. One should use things according to one’s need, he said and Gujarat Vidyapith still rests on this principle.

Gujarat Vidyapith has students from all over the country as well as abroad where they are taught according to a skill-based education system. They are also taught to lead a self-sufficient lifestyle.

Students in Vidyapith still wear Khadi clothes and believe in doing their own work, as Gandhi used to do. Students are supposed to wake up at 6 am and start their day with morning prayers. They cook their own food, clean their college and spin charkhas.

Even today, the students sit on the floor in their classes and professors follow Gandhi’s ideology. Everyone wears Khadi and knows how to spin a charkha.

The curriculum of Vidyapith has been designed keeping in mind the problems faced by people in the rural areas. Students from the institution go to backward areas, where there are no basic facilities and work, to educate the poor children. They are known as Gram Shilpi. Many students of Vidyapith have become Gram Shilpi, who go from village to village to teach poor kids.

Mahatma Gandhi used to say India will develop only when the villages do. Gujarat Vidyapith is trying to fulfill this dream. It is a unique institution of its kind, giving functional experience of what is required to develop villages.

Another specialty of the school is to provide an experience of community life. Students here follow the idea of living a collective life apart from non-violence, not consuming drugs and a simple lifestyle.