About Saurashtra University
Saurashtra University, established on 23rd May, 1967, is situated in Rajkot city
of the Saurashtra region of Gujarat State. The campus of the university is
spread over 363 acres of land. The jurisdiction of the university includes
Amreli, Jamanagar, Junagadh, Porbandar, Rajkot, Surendranagar districts. It has
29 post Graduate Departments on its campus and 298 affiliated colleges.
About Saurashtra
Saurashtra forms a part of Gujarat State and is located on the western part of
India. It assumes the shape of a Peninsula budging out in the Arabian Sea and is
spread over an area of 64,338 sq.kms. The climate of Saurashtra is characterized
by a hot summer and general dryness except in the coastal areas. The region of
Saurashtra was described as Kathiawad during the Pre-British Period. Soon after
independence, all princely states were integrated into one state viz. Saurashtra
which ceased to exist as a separate state with its merger into bilingual Bombay
state (including all parts of Gujarat and Maharashtra) in 1956. Again when
Bombay state was bifurcated on 1st May 1960, in to two separate states of
Gujarat and Maharashtra, the region of Saurashtra was merged in to Gujarat
State.
The industries like cotton ginning and pressing factories, Pottery works, glass
works, oil mills, Cement factories, Salt works, Match works Tin factories, bras
and metal works, iron Foundries and iron works, Pharmaceutical and Chemical
factories, Soap factories, Printing Press, Cement-tiles manufacturing units have
been well developed in this region. Some unorganized industries like hand-looms
industry, knot sari printing (Bandhani), blanket making stone caring, ivory
works golden and silver works Cart manufacturing, ship building and fishing have
also important place in the economy of Saurashtra. There is also a good number
of Small – Scale industries. Different financial institutions in the state help
these industries.
Rajkot has produced leaders of national stature. Though born in Porbandar,
Mahatma Gandhi took his primary and secondary education here in Rajkot city at
Alfred High School, which is now given a name Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi High
School. The house in which Gandhiji lived at that time still exists which is
known as Kaba-Gandhi’s dela. There is now a museum of Pictures based on
Gandhiji’s life. The city is also having one more very old museum at Jubilee
Garden-Watson Museum.
The head-quarters of four Universities Saurashtra University, Bhavnagar
University. Ayurved University & Krishi University has been situated in
Saurashtra.
Saurashtra is also a place of attraction for tourists. The famous Dwarikanath
Temple (Dwarka). Somnath Temple (Veraval) Jain Temple (Palitana) are well known
in India. The mountain Girnar at Junagadh is considered a holy place and its
other than the Himalayas. Places like Chorwad, Ahmad-nagar Mandvi, Sasan-Gir
(Lion show) are worth seeing. Saurashtra is also have beautiful princely places,
some of which have been converted into Hotels by Gujarat tourism.
The evoke of Saurashtra are familiar for their sweet language and kind
hospitality. Saurashtra have provided leaders like Shri Mahatma Gandhi (father
of Nation) Shri Maharshi Dayanand (founder of Arya Samaj) and saint-poet Shri
Narsih Mehta, Saint Shri Jalaram Bapa and National Poet Shri Zaverchand Meghani.
Saurashtra has got biggest coast line on which important ports like Kandla (free
Trade Zone) Veraval, Porbandar, Jamnagar, Okha, Salaya, Bhavnagar, Gogha etc.
are located.
Saurashtra has also references in Purans. Dwarka was the seat of Power of Lord
Krishna’s Yadav-kul. Piously, this region has been called “Anart Pradesh” and
Somnath area is called as Prabhas Kshetra which gives Moksha as per Hindu
Mythology.
Rajkot city was founded by the then rulers of Sardhar on the bank of the River
Aji in the year 1608. After independence, it was selected as the capital of
Saurashtra state in 1948. With the formation of Gujarat state, it became its
part. Since then, Rajkot has known by leaps and bounds and it is one of the four
biggest cities.
Rajkot has made rapid strides not only in the industrial and commercial sphere
bit also in cultural field. It is known for its small industries specially
engineering and oil engine manufacturing. Though, it is centrally located in the
state and is an important link to the Saurashtra region. It is at a
dis-advantage so far as its resources are concerned. Because of rapid rise in
the area of Rajkot city and its population, heavy growth of small industries and
limited availability of underground water against irregular rainfall, people
have to face problem of water-shortage many-a-time.
On educational front, there are colleges- Arts-Science and Commerce, one
pharmacy college and Polytechnique, Medical, Engineering etc. Rajkot is the Head
quarter of Saurashtra University.
Outer areas of Rajkot city have broad and well –illuminated roofs with colored
fountains at different places. The city is having very old library, i.e. Lang
Library. There are four major water reservoirs -Lalpari, Aji-1, Aji-2 and Nyari
which also serve as good picnic places for the people of Rajkot. The city is
also having a beautiful Ramkrishna Temple, at Ramkrishna Ashram, built on the
model of the temple at Belur-Math. Calcutta. There is also one famous Gurukul
where students get education in its real sense of the word, where along with
formal education, students are made aware of our great Indian culture and
ethical values.
Recently one more beautiful temple known as Shrimat Rajchandra Dhyan Mandir has
also been built near Akashvani, Swaminarayan Temple on Kalawad Rod. There is one
Rashtriya Shala which was built in the early days of the freedom movement in
this century where one Gandhiji went on Fast during freedom movement.
Rajkot is also well known for its beautifully carved gold and silver ornaments
all over the country. Standard of living in Rajkot city is comparatively high.
People are generally well-to-do economically and very hospitable.
Whether is normally fine. In summer, days are hot but evenings remain always
pleasant in Rajkot.