B J Institute of Learning and Research

Nine February of Nineteen Forty Seven (9/2/1947), Sunday will be considered a memorable and important day in the history of Gujarat Vernacular Society. The society received 2 Lakh Rupees as a donation from Bholabhai Jeshingbhai Dalal for the Higher Study and Research Department running since 1938 and from July,1946  it was named transformed as ‘Sheth Bhola Jesingbhai Adhyayan – Sansodhan Vidhyabhavan’. It was released by the Head of Mumbai Government and Education Minister of Maharashtra Shree Balasaher Khere.

During the year, Prof. Kashinath Vasudev Abhyakar, Prof. Madhusadan C. Modi and Prof. Umashankar Joshi were working as Honorary Professors.

Besides the above motioned persons, Pandi Sukhlalji Sanghivi for Philosophy, Prof. Ramnarayan Vishvanath Pathak for Gujarati, Shree Bharati Sarabhai for ancient culture, Dr. P.M. Modi for Sanskrit and Shree Ravishankar Mahashankar Raval for Ancient Sculpture were professors during the year.

Looking to the aims of this society it was considered as independent branch as ‘Higher Study and Research Department’. It is transformed as ‘Sheth Bholabhai Jeshingbhai Adhyayan Sansodhan Vidhyabhavan’, for English dealing its name is considered as “Sheth Bholabhai Jeshingbhai Institute of Learning and Research”, and it will be always known as it is.

During First five years, (The trust was came into existence from 16-01-46) the following members were registered in managing committee.

  • Respected Shree Ganesh Vasudev Mavlankar – President
  • Lady Vidhyaben Ramanbhai Nilkanth
  • Shree Ramnarayan Vishvanath Pathak
  • Shree Rasiklal Chhotalal Parikh
  • Shree Rasiklal Maneklal
  • A representative of patron.
  • Pandit Sukhlalji Sanghavi

          According to the permission granted for the research work planning   by the letter of Mumbai Government dated, 17th March 1939, the research work was continued during the year. Many important and research books had been got written by the various scholars and published. These books had been related to language and literature, Sanskrit Literature and Ardha Maghdhi, Astrology, Persian, Criticism and Study, Sculpture, Old Gujarati, Metrics, History, Sociology.

Gujarat University has given permanent recognition to B. J. Adhyayan- Sansodhan Vidhyabhavan through the letter dated 23094-1955, Ref No. Syndicate –  Affidavit No. 22541 for the study of M. A and Ph. D on Gujarati, Sanskrit and Indian Ancient Culture. At present centre for M. A. and Ph. D. is active for the study of the subjects in Indian Culture. This institute has given more than 78 Ph. D. degree holders since 1938. More than 200 research books are published. Till today, the progress done in the research work and the post graduate education, the place given to the research professors and the atmosphere raised for the higher studies and research due to Gujarat Vidhyasabha and it adorns Gujarat Vidhyasabha.

Educational Activities of the Institution:

          During 1081-82, the museum of Vallabhvidhyanagar, Hathising Temple and Painter Shree Chhaganlal Jadav were personally visited by us.

          With the collaboration of the History Department of Gujarat University, a research project named ‘Study of documents-deeds’ was started from 16-01-1984 and about 25 documents of the institution were read and registered.

Political and Cultural History of Gujarat:

The history of Gujarat is a unit of History of India. The history of Gujarat begins at the end of the forth century of BC. Before that History of Human Culture is started with Palaeolithic Age. In India, Gujarat is established as a separate state from 1st May, 1960. Alexander Kinloch Forbes began to write the whole history of Gujarat in modern way from the authentic material of Gazetteer book-1- Part – I of Dr. Bhagavanlal Indraji from Bombay  in ‘Rasmala’. It was published in 1896.

“Sheth Bholabhai Jeshingbhai Institute of Learning and Research” has planned to prepare and publish a chain of books on ‘The Political and Cultural History of Gujarat’ and submitted to the Government of Gujarat. The Government had granted 75 % of its expense. In this plan, it was thought to prepare nine volumes in succession on ‘Prehistoric Age to 1960’ and on 5th December, 1967 an Advisor Committee and editors were appointed by B. J. Vidhyabhave Trust Managing Committee.

Editors:                         Shree Rasiklal Chhotalal Parikh

Dr. Shree Hariprasad Gangashankar Shashtri

Advisor Committee:     Munishri Jinvijayji

Acharya Shree Dolarray Mankad

Dr. Hasmukh D, Sankalia

Dr. Bhogilal J. Sandesara

Shree. Anantray M. Raval

Shree Yashvantbhai Shukla

Dr. Chhotubhai Nayak

According to this planning, in the series of books of History of Gujarat the following nine volumes were distributed from ‘Ancient Prehistoric Age to 1960’.

  • Introduction History (Prague History to Aadhya History)
  • Mauryakal to Gupta Age ( About 322 BC to about 470 BC)
  • Maitrak and Anumaitrak Age ( About 470 BC to 942 BC)
  • Solanki Age (942 BC to 1304 BC)
  • Saltanat Age (1304 BC to 1573 BC)
  • Mughal Age (1573 BC to 1758 BC)
  • Maratha Age (1758 BC to 1818 BC)
  • British Age (1818 BC to 1914 BC)
  • Before Independence and then (1915 BC to 1960)

Nine Volume of History of Gujarat were published during 1972 to 1987. There was much demand of these volumes in schools, colleges and University. All the copies of these volumes were unavailable so B. J. Vidhyabhavan had got grant sanctioned by Gujarat Archaeology Department and through, Youth and  Cultural Activities Department of Government of Gujarat they were reprinted.

Periodical of the Institution – ‘SAMIPYA’

The first issue of B. J. Adhyayan – Sansodhan Vidhyabhavan’s periodical – ‘Samipya’ was published in 1984-85. At present, its publication work is continued.

With that activities, seminars and lectures for spreading knowledge were organized. Scholarships were given to the students. For motivating students in Education, the best students were given prizes from the trust fund of the society. Medals were given to the students who got the highest marks in different subjects like Gujarti, Sanskrit, Mathematic, etc. This work of the society was appreciable. That was the unique activity of the institution for motivating students in India.

The Museum of Archaeological Things:

This museum is kept in Bholabhai Jesingbhai Adhyayan-Sansodhan Vidhyabhavan for permanent exhibition. The work of the exhibition is  looked after the President of Vidhyabhavan.

Our cultural riches were destroyed and disordered in robbery, stampede and massacre during the time of Mohammedan. But the books which were saved were protected keenly by our ancestors. As a result of their vision and wisdom whatever was safe, we are able to know about our religion, history, knowledge and culture.

The Poet Dalpatram came to know that our old books and documents are being destroyed; he began to find out such thing as their hobby. One of the intentions of establishing this society was to get old books and manuscript and protect them. However, some manuscripts were such that they were not in any collection and were were important and valuable.

In this museum, the contents are arranged according to the steeps of the development of culture. There are different types of fossilized conch-seashell; ancient historical tools are protected here. Sample toys of Harappa, Mohenjo-Daro and Lothal along with coins of Lothal and minting are splashy.

There is a collection of about 4000 coins from ancient ‘Five Mark’ Coins to Kshatrap, Gupta, Hun, Saltanat, Mughal, Maratha, British, and modern time.

In Maru-Gurjar Language and manuscript of a story with pictures of Layala-Majnu, Durga Saptashati in Devnagri script with pictures and ‘Paramhansa Sahashtranam Stotra’ in Sanskrit with pictures are preserved in this museum.

About 200 documents displaying different types of information, calendar’s Olia, Urdu-Persian letters, Olia related to poems written in clothes during various time are preserved here. Pictures displaying Raag and Raagini, Pictures of Tirthankar, Historical photos and slides displaying archaeological importance are preserved in this museum. In this museum, about 200 sculptures made from stone, wood and mettle are exhibited. Coper-plate of King Saiddharaj Jaysinh of Solanki dynasty of Gujarat, a donation coper-plate of the King Karkaraj of Rastra Kut dynasty carved in Brahmi Script are preserved here.

Though the manuscripts written in luminous script on palm leaf and paper which are worn out, they can be read. Among them the manuscript ‘Kadambari’ by Bhalan, ‘Shabdanushashan’ and ‘Mugdhavabodh’ Auktik’ are remarkable. This museum has published a catalogue of manuscript in five parts.

Research fellows from various states of India and foreigners frequently come to study the manuscripts, idols, coins and documents. Thus, for research the museum is very useful. Besides, the students from various colleges of Ahmedabad and officer of archaeological department visit this museum. Besides them the Governor of Gujarat Shreemannarayan, Education Minister of Gujarat, well-known learned man Prof. V. K. Gokak, Prof. Anantray Raval, Kalaguru Ravishankar Raval, world famous archaeologist Dr. Hasmukh D. Sankalia, Director of National Archives of India, Prof. Jack Sudi from St. John’s College, Cambrudge had visited this museum and showed their interest in collected samples.

Vidhyasabha had collected manuscripts from the very beginning and so as as result of this, at present Vidhyasabha has about 14,000 manuscripts, about 4000 ancient coins of silver, coper, and mix mettle and about 200 documents collected in Vidhyasabha.

Gujarat University has given permanent recognition to B. J. Vidhyabhavan from 23-04-1955. At present centre of Post Graduation and Ph. D.  for the subject of Indian Culture is running. This institute has given 78 Ph. D. fellows since 1938 and about 200 research books are published. The institute has tried to keep its library up-to-date for the study and research of post graduate students.  About lakh of books are preserved in it.

Till today, the development in research work and postgraduate education is done, the place given to the professor related to research and the atmosphere which is raised for higher study is noteworthy and adorable for Gujarat Vidhyasabha.

Thus, Gujarat Vidhyasabha is working at the forefront in the various fields of education. Fascinated by the work of Vidhyasabha, rich people, donor, educationists, students contributed money for its development.

The institution began in 1848 and then from 1849 a system of appointing honorary secretary and joint secretary started. From 1877 a system of appointing President and from 1872 a system of appointing Vice-President was started.