Rajeev Ghandhi Govt College

Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya

Doctor Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya, formerly University of Saugar, was established on 18th July 1946 by Dr. Harisingh Gour by his lifetime saving. This 18th University of India and the oldest and the biggest University of Madhya Pradesh has perhaps the singular distinction of being founded by the munificence of a single person's hard earned money of about two crore of rupees. Sir Hari Singh Gour (Nov. 26.1870 – Dec. 25. 1949).




Apart from being a great jurist and legal luminary par excellence, he was a great Patriot, Philanthropist, Educationist and Social Reformer. He was the first Vice-Chancellor of Nagpur University (1936-38). He also held the vice-chancellorship of the University of Delhi (1925). Dr. Gour was the founder Vice–Chancellor of the University of Saugar. The Govt. of India honoured his memory by issuing a commemorative postage stamp in 1976. The University of Saugar was rechristened as Doctor Hari Singh Gour Vishwavidyalaya in February 1983 by the State Legislature. The University is situated 5 Km. east of Sagar city and its campus is spread on 830.3 hectares on the top of Patharia hills. It is one of the finest picturesque campuses in India. It has 36 University teaching departments (number keeps adding) 10 faculties and 81 affiliated colleges covering 6 revenue districts of M.P. There are 4 hostels for boys (940 seats) and two hostels for girls ( app.380 seats). State Bank of India. Post office, STD booth, Employment and Guidance Bureau, University Hospital, University Press, 3 canteens and a shopping complex provide auxiliary services in the campus. The Jawaharlal Nehru Library of the University has more than 3,10,000 books. As many as 26 departments have their own departmental libraries. Apart from conventional degree, post graduate and research courses, Geology, Pharmacy, Criminology & Forensic Science, Anthropology, Performing Arts, Journalism & Mass Communication, Adult Education, Electronics, Business Management, Microbiology, Biotechnology and Computer Applications are some of the special subjects, which attract a large number of students from the four corners of the country. The Institute of Distance Education of the University runs various self-finance, Correspondence Courses such as in M.Lib.Sc., B.Lib., MC(J), BJ (C), PG Diploma in Environmental Marketing and Personnel Management, PG Diploma in Criminology and Police Administration .





The University has a centre of Indira Gandhi Open University, Audiovisual Research Centre, Central Instrumentation Laboratory, Shrimant B.S. Jain Centre for Research and Education in Psychology and Population Research Centre created by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt of India . Muktibodh Peetha in the Department of Hindi has been created by the Govt. of M.P. The Botanical Survey of India has considered the Botanical Gardens of the University as the richest amongst those of Indian Universities. Madhya Bharati, the research journal of the University and the Bulletin of the Botanical Society of the University are internationally abstracted. The research journals from the Dept. of Sanskrit Sagarika and Natyam have pride of place amongst the indological journals of the country. "Isuri" the journal from the Bundeli Peeth of Hindi Dept. is a perennial source of Bundelkhandi art and culture. The discovery of an impression Edicaranfossil Spriggina by the Applied Geology Department has created much interest internationally. The NAAC appointed by UGC has awarded 'A' Grade re-accreditation to this University.




Vice Chancellors like Shri Hari Singh Gour, Prof. R.P. Tripathi, Pandit D.P. Mishra, Justice G.P. Bhatt, Prof. M.P. Sharma, Prof. W.D. West, Prof. Bhagirath Mishra, Prof. T.S. Murty, Shri M.B. Malhotra (Retd: IAS) and Shri Shiv Kumar Shrivastava, etc., have been greatly instrumental in building up the glorious traditions of this University. The University has been fortunate to have over the years a succession of great Educationists of character and vision such as Prof. W.D. West FNA (Geology), Prof. S.C. Dube (Anthropology), Acharya Nand Dulare Baipai (Hindi), Acharya K.D. Baipal (Ancient Indian Histroy and Culture), Prof. L.C. Jain (Economics), Prof. S.R. Swaminathan (English), Prof. M.L. Shorff (Pharmacy), Prof. R.D. Mishra FNA (Botany), Prof. S.B. Saksena FNA (Botany), Prof. S.M.Ali FNA (Geography), Prof. H.S. Asthana (Psychology), Prof. M.P. Sharma (Public Administration ), Prof. Dhirendra Verma (Linguistics), Prof. Babu Ram Saxena (Linguistics), Prof. A.K. Bhattacharya (Chemistry), Prof. D.R. Bhawalkar (Physics), Prof. Bhagirath Mishra (Hindi), Prof. Ramiji Upadhyaya (Sanskrit), Prof. Harsarup FNA (Zoology), Prof. U. Aswathanaryan FNA (Geology), Prof. S.N. Sharma (Pharmacy), Prof. Amresh Awasthi (Pol. Science), Prof R.R. Bhatnagar, Prof D. P. Jatar ( Criminology and Forensic Science), Prof S S Shrivastava (Criminology) etc. Dr. Namvar Singh, Dr. Yogesli Atal and Acharya Rajneesh have also been associated with this University. More than 70,000 regular and private students appeared in its annual examination in 2002. The University achievements by way of contribution to research are noteworthy. It has awarded more than 3,000 Ph.D, 4 D.Sc, and 37 D.Litt. Degrees so far. Several alumni of the University have brought great glory to it by distinguishing themselves in their chosen fields both within and outside the country. 26 of its students and teachers have been Vice Chancellors of different Indian Universities. A matter of even greater satisfaction is that the University has brought the light of knowledge into millions of homes in the villages and areas around Sagar, thus partly fulfilling the objectives of its establishment. The University is developing in a congenial peaceful disciplined and enthusiastic atmosphere. The students and teachers of the University are ever conscious of the burden of responsibility placed on them by the dreams of a great visionary who had kindled "the light that never fails."

SAGAR, Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh occupies perhaps the oldest part of the subcontinent - called the Gondwana - the home of the Gonds. Close to Bhopal at Bhimbetka are the prehistoric caves that preserve some fascinating paintings dating back to paleolithic times. Experts have concluded that these are at least as old as the specimen at Pyrnees. This was perhaps one of the earliest dwellings of human beings.

In fact, the excavations here have revealed a cultural sequence right from the late stone age to the early historical period. Madhya Pradesh is the richest state in the country in respect of painted rock-shelters, the majority of which have been found in the districts of Sehore, Bhopal, Raisen, Hoshangabad and Sagar.

During the ascendency of the Guptas, the whole region came under the domain of the imperial Guptas and subsequently formed a part of of Harshavardhan's empire. With the decline in imperial power, the province was broken up into small principalities contending forever to establish their supremacy over one another. Chandelas were one such dynasty claiming descent from the moon, who carved out a strong prosperous kingdom for themselves after the decline of the great empire. There was a short spell of inspired construction activity under the Chandela in the 10th to 11th centuries. They are the ones who have left behind the cluster of matchless temples at Khajuraho, now a World Heritage Site.

Chandelas were followed by Pratihara and Gaharwar Rajput dynasties claiming mythical origins relating their scions to the gods or heroes in the epics.

They lived and died by a difficult code of chivalry, wasted away scarce resources in an expensive feudal life style and could not ultimately keep at bay the expanding Muslim Power. Rulers of Malwa fought a running battle with the subedars of Gujarat or the commanders of the Sultan of Delhi throughout the sultanate period.

The grand Moghul Akbar succeeded in subdoing most of them and his sterner grandson Aurangazeb broke through the last pockets of resistance in this region.

Many of the smaller kingdoms trace their origins to the lands granted by the emperor at Delhi to those who had served him well.

Bir Singh Deo of Orchha was for instance installed on his throne by Jehangir who felt obliged to the Bundela chieftain for having removed a painful thorn Abdul Fazal, from his side. Abdul Fazal one of the nine Jewels of Akbar's court was murdered at his behest near Gwalior.

Some other principalities came into being with branching of families, internecine quarrels and the munificence of the Marathas who were indominable with the decline of the Moghuls. Rulers of Ratlam and Sitamau claim close relationship with the ruling house of Jodhpur in Rajasthan.

In course of time, the Marathas were replaced by the British who entered into treaty relationships with these princely states and established paramountey over them. This was the Raj period when the Central Provinces were left for the large part outside developments in British India.

The Maharajas were free to indulge in their expensive whims much to the chagrin of their poor populace. This is the world evoked by Kipling in his Jungle Book and chronicled by F.M. Forster in the Hill of Devi. Jhabua, Nagod, Alirajpur, Sarguja Dewas Senior and Junior were quaint names of exotic places where eccentric Englishmen could strive to carve out a career or amass a fortune or simply drop.

These were the destinations where the Prince of Wales or the Viceroy could be taken out for the treat of his life a tiger shoot, or to savour the extravagant life style of the Maharajas. Most of these blue-blooded gentry were content to be renowned for their prowess with a heavy gun or patronage of arts and crafts.

The stirrings of the national movement were slow in this region as most of the area was not directly ruled by the British. Undaunted freedom fighters carried Mahatma Gandhi's message to the masses and exhorted them to take up the battle against colonialism. Independence of India in 1947 was followed by the merger of hundreds of princely states into the union and the Indian Republic was born on 26th January 1950.

Soon afterwards the boundaries were rationalized with re - organization of the States with Madhya Pradesh becoming the largest one, covering a total area of 4,43,406 sq. kms. until 1st November 2000 when the new State of Chhattisgarh with a total area of 71,35,224 sq. km. was carved out of it.