Gujarat Vidyapith was founded by Mahatma Gandhi on October 18, 1920 to liberate the Indian youths from the shackles of British colonial rule. As against the British colonial education system, propounded by Lord Macaulay, that produced human resources for the oppressive British Empire, Gandhi wanted his Vidyapith to prepare the youths for the task of national reconstruction and usher in 'Hind Swaraj', the India of his dream.
Gujarat Vidyapith was established as a national university without a government charter. Gandhiji was its life-long chancellor. Professor A T Gidwani was its founder vice-chancellor. Later, many more institutions, colleges and schools were affiliated to the Vidyapith. In 1923, the total number of students in these institutions stood at 30,000.
Until 1930, Vidyapith imparted graduation-level courses in languages such as Gujarati, Marathi, Bengali, Sanskrit, Persian, and English as well as in History, Mathematics, Philosophy, Economics, Accountancy, Music, Political Science, Pharmacy, Archaeology and Ideology.
