Gurukula Kangri (Deemed to be University) ('गुरुकुल कांगड़ी समविश्वविद्यालय') is a Government-funded Deemed to be University u/s 3 of the UGC Act 1956 located in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, India.[1] It is fully funded by UGC/ Govt. of India. It is NAAC "B" grade accredited.[2] Situated near the bank of the Ganges, Haridwar and about 200 km from New Delhi.[3] Gurukula Kangri has 25 academic departments covering Engineering, Applied Sciences, Vedic Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences and Management programs with a strong emphasis on Vedic and Modern Sciences and technological education and research.[4] The university has signed about 34 memorandums of understanding with industries, universities, NGOs, and institutions.[5]
History
Gurukula Kangri (Deemed to be University) was founded on 4 March 1902 by the Arya Samaj sannyasi Swami Shraddhanand, who was a follower of Dayananda Saraswati, with the sole aim to revive the ancient Indian gurukula system of education.[6] This institution was established with the objective of providing an indigenous alternative to Lord Macaulay's education policy by imparting education in the areas of Vedic literature, Indian philosophy, Indian culture, modern sciences, and research.
The Arya Samaj which advocated women's education, as part of its policies for the upliftment of women in the country, established the Kanya Gurukula Campus, Dehradun in 1922 by Acharya Ramdevji making it a second campus of women's education. But to give real shape to the dreams of Swami Shraddhanandaji, Kanya Gurukula Campus, Haridwar was established in 1993.[6]
The impetus for the foundation was found in the teachings and activities of Dayananda Saraswati, founder of the Arya Samaj. The first foundation brick was laid down in Gujranwala, Punjab. Swami Ji searched for a suitable palace in India according to the imagination of Dayananda Saraswati as mentioned in Satyarth Prakash. The Gurukula was shifted to Kangri Village of Bijnor district. There was a heavy flooded when the river changed course in 1924; the new and present campus was built subsequently on National Highway. The buildings of Gurukula in Kangri Village still exist. It is called as 'Punya Bhumi'. The Gurukula at Kangri had a mix of vedic and modern science education since its inception. Impressed by the devotion of Swami ji, the entire land mass of more than 1000 bigah was donated by Munshi Aman Singh of Bijnaur District to Panjab Arya Pratinidhi Sabha exclusively for the purposes of Gurukula Education. Swamiji had donated his entire wealth for the Gurukula. He was a visionary who propagated vedic education and use of Hindi as primary language of instruction in the Gurukula.
A+ Grade was provided by National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) in 2015.[9]
Deemed University Status: The distinguished services of this institution to the nation were recognized when it was given the status of Deemed to be University in 1962 by University Grants Commission.[1]
Centenary Year: Vishwavidyalaya celebrated 2002 as its centenary year.
Membership: Gurukula Kangri Vishwavidyalaya is a Registered autonomous institute. All the degrees conferred by the vishwavidyalaya are recognized by UGC and AICTE wherever required.[citation needed]
Gurukula Kangri Vishwavidyalaya is a member of the Association of Indian Universities.[citation needed]
References
Wikisource has original text related to this article:
Gurukul Kangri Vidyapeeth, Haridwar ka Sau Varsh ka Itihas, by Jayadev Vedalankar. Bhartiya Vidya Prakashan, Delhi, 2002.
Speech at Gurukul, Hardwar (8 April 1915). Collected Works, by Gandhi. Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Govt. of India, 1958. v.13. Page 46.
