Following are interesting excerpts from an article about Gujarat University in Times of India, Ahmedabad edition. The University completes 60 years today.

-Gujarat University had 26 affiliated colleges and 16,000 students in 1950. It has 350 affiliated colleges with 2.25 lakh students today.

-Soon after India got Independence, Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel expressed keen desire that a separate university be instituted for the state. While controversy raged over its location, reputed Gujarati writers Anandshankar Dhru and Kanhaiyalal Munshi managed to convince decision makers that Ahmedabad was the right location (Vadodara was another major competitor).

-On November 23, exactly 60 years ago, an act was passed in Mumbai (then Bombay) for the establishment of Gujarat University.

-About 266 acres of land to start the University was donated by Sheth Shree Kasturbhai Lalbhai.

-The foundation stone of the university was laid by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in 1950.

-Leading scientists and visionaries of the country including former ISRO Chairman Dr. UR Rao and K Kasturirangan obtained their maiden doctoral degrees from this university. Leading scientists of Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) and ISRO like Dr NV Madhavan, Dr YG Naik, Dr SR Palay, Dr Raja Ram are among the few leading scientists named in the annals of Gujarat University. Recently nearly 15 scientists from PRL were honored with the status of PhD guides by the university.

-A known philanthropist Beharilal Kanhaiyalal was the first PhD holder in Gujarat University in 1954, after whom BK School of Management is named. Till now, nearly 2,400 people have obtained PhDs from Gujarat University.