Introduction

History

Gujarat Vernacular Society means today’s reputed institution – Gujarat Vidyasabha.
There is a difference between person and society. Thing, which cannot be done by a person, it can be done by an institution. Institution means congregated vitality – mass identification. Knowing time, if the institution makes change in its body viewing the long period, it can play the role for social and educational change and the role of the mother of political vitality and economical progress.

Keeping this principle, this institution was founded on Tuesday of 26th December 1848 by Colonel Alexander Kinloch Forbes. Thus, this institution has completed 173 years. The name was changed on the centenary of the institution. From 1946, this institute has been known as ‘Gujarat Vidhyasabha’.

This institution is registered on 29th September, 1880 according to the 21st act of 1860.

When the seed of this institution had been sown, British Empire ruled over the whole country and Gujarat and the whole country was stuck in commotion. At that time, British management was established. During that period, Sanskrit and Persian learning, and art of Music and Architecture mixed with Hindu-Muslim culture were spread around.

However, at that time a new stream of new culture was coming from western countries. New political power was making unprecedented changes in the houses of society. Original language of state administration was Persian. English had been taking place of Persian language. When the door English language opened, the stream of western culture of 19th century moved towards this country.

Scientific wisdom, democratic state administration and instead of ancient language the folk language were some of the different new attractions among them to be directed. It was necessarily understood to give the space to new wisdom and for that, its well-wishers thought necessary to make Gujarati language rich with wisdom by flourishing Gujarati language with western attainment, absorbing western literary forms and researching it in scientific method.

The plant of this institute rose during that period. Dalpatram, one of the founders of this institute and a eminent poet of Gujarat says referring this occasion – a society which was founded for increasing learning.

In the words of Kavi Dalpatram:

“ઇસ્વિસો અઢારે અડતાળીસની સાલે શુભ,

તારિખ તો છવીશમી ડીસેંબર માસની,

મંગળવારે મહા મંગળીક ક્રિયા કીધી,

કિન્લાક સાહેબ તણી કીર્તિનાં પ્રકાશની,

સ્થાપી ગુજરાત વર્નાક્યુલર સોસાઈટી તે,

અધિક વધારનારી વિદ્યાના અભ્યાસની;

દ્વિજ દલપતરામે દિલથી આશિષ દીધી,

આજથી સોસાયટી તું થજે અવિનાશની”

(દલપત કાવ્ય ભા-૧  પૃ ૧૧૫)

FOUNDERS OF GUJARAT VIDYASABHA