Bhavan's I. L. Pandya Arts, Science and Smt. J. M Shah Commerce College
Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan is one of the prolific institutions in the world. It has more than --- branches in India and --- branches abroad. It was a vision of Kulguru Munshi to establish a charity which can impart the modern ways and in that way make the people of the nation citizen in real sense. Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan intended for the assimilation of Indian Culture and traditions to build modern India with its fundamental values based on SATYAM, SHIVAM AND SUNDARAM – means truth, love and beauty. The world, today, is facing and in that way falling under the impact of global recession, an unscrupulous technological inundation and moral fall. Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan has been constantly trying and working to hold fast to the basic principles for which our great cultural heroes like Mahatma Gandhi, Swami Ramkrishna Paramhansh, Swami Vivekanada, Swami Dayanand Saraswati and Sri Aurbindo and rest all who struggled and lived for these ideas. It is accepted worldwide that India will show path to the world and as every nation looks at us with a great hope it is our moral duty to fulfill this unchanged desire of the world. Though undeveloped in the eyes of the developed countries, we are the people who inherent the ideas and thought about which the world is still thinking and memorizing. Our Vedas and scriptures have surprised all about how such unique ideas were formed by our great ancestral thinkers.
Experts talk about Gandhi's philosophy very helpful to overcome the impact of recession With the definite intention of propagating Bhartiya Culture and Indian Ethos, the 'Bhavan' was for the first time formally inaugurated on November 7, 1938 by Dr.K.M.Munshi, at Mumbai. The Iron Man of India Sardar Patel, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Dr. S Radhakrishnan and Shri Chimanlal Setlwad were the founder members of the 'Bhavan'. The inauguration of Gujarat's tenth centre of 'Bhavan's Dakor Kendra in July 1961 by the then Governer of Gujarat Anwar Mehdi Navaz Jung laid a milestone in the history of the 'Bhavans'. Hon. Justice Mr. J. M. Shelet of Umreth town was the first chairman of this centre. With this it was decided to start Arts and Science College.
A land of 125 acres was acquired and the Bhoomo Poojan was performed by our great emirate of India Kulpati Late Dr. K. M. Munshi, on 22nd July, 1961. Dr. S. M. Shah and Mr. T. D. Dave took initiative of donation and donate generously to change their long cherished dream of educational institution in this area into a reality. Dr. Jivraj Mehta, the then Chef Minister of Gujarat inaugurated the college building on June 14, 1962 with the active co operation of Hon. Justice J. M. Shelet, Shri Amritlal Hargovandas and other well wishers of the surrounding area. Advocate I. M. Nanavati and other well wishers of Bhavan's staged programmed at Ahmedabad to collect funds for college building. The remaining land of the Dakor Kendra was utilized for the farming purpose and with the efforts of the ancestors of the Bhavans the Swiss Government sanctioned a handsome amount to develop the farm for the agricultural purpose. Bhavan's agricultural programme was looked after by Dr. Maganbhai Patel, Ex. Director of Agriculture College, Vallabh Vidyanagar and Smt. Kamlaben Patel, Ex.- Minister of the state. The earnings of the farm are utilized for the development of academic programme of the educational institutes at Dakor. Hon Justice shri J. M. Shelet was elevated to the supreme court of India and Hon. Justice Shri P. N. Bhagvati became the chairman of the Dakor Kendra. When he was elevated as the judge of the Supreme Court, Chief Justice of Gujarat High Court, Justice shri B. J. Diwan appointed to look after the events of Bhavn's Dakor Kendra. When he was transferred to Andhra Pradesh High Court, sanctimonious and a dedicated person shri Ishwarbhai Pandya (Motabhai) became the chairman. At present since 199 , Jusitce Shri B. J. Diwan is handling the affairs of the Bhavans with his team. The Dakor Kendra started postgraduate centres in Arts and Science with Sanskrit and Chemistry respectively in 1967. The time then demanded the need for the commerce college and it was established on June 15, 1970 to cater the neeeds of the students of the time. Dr. Manilal Chunilal Shah donated generously in loving memory of his wife Smt. Jashodaben Shah and the commerce college was named as Smt. Jashodaben Shah Commerce College. Looking to the needs of the time and importance of the job oriented courses the Kendra decided to open technical institute. With the blessing of shri Sadguru Swami Hariprasadji of Dakor Swaminarayan Temple who donated Rs. One lakh for the Technical College and it was with his blessings that the technical institute is running many trades.
In 1981, an Industrial Training institution was started and it was assisted financially by Shri Gunvantbhai Sutaria and his family. TFor the necessarily required facilities and the development of Arts, Commerce and Science College, another donation was donated by the trustees of Shri Nathjibhai Ichchharam Trust, and the vice chairman of the Kendra Shri Laxmiprasad Ishwarlal Pandya, in memory of his father late shri Ishwarlal L. Pandya. For introducing Computer Science Course, Shri P. C. Sheth, Chairman of Umreth Urban Bank donated Rs. One lakh. The English Medium School was started in June 1984 as it was felt by all the trustees of the Bhavan thet the students of this area have some potentials but they do not stand before the other students of the nation.
The Bhoomi poojan of the school was performed by Dr. Manilal Chunilal Shah in April 1985. A sum of Rs. One Lakh was donated by Dr. Manilal Chunilal Shah and Rs. 50,000/- was donated by Shri Natwarlal Motilal Desai in memory of Shri Somabhai Bhogilal and Smt. Girjaben for the construction of the school auditorium. Shri Natwarlal also donated a sum of Rs. 50,000/-in memory of shri Chunila Damodardas Desai, for the school library. With the advancement of English Language and its function in today's world, a Language Laboratory in English was started with the assistance of the UGC.