Going to university is a big step in the journey of every student. Selecting your major or choosing your college campus, every little thing excites you. Being passionate about history, I was fortunate to learn about the university I enrolled in, the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda (MSU).
Situated in Vadodara, Gujarat, the university was established in 1881 by the Baroda State. It was formerly known as Baroda College. In 1949, the last Maharaja of the erstwhile Baroda State, Pratap Singh Gaekwad, set up the university, fulfilling the wishes of his grandfather Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III. He also established the Sir Sayajirao Diamond Jubilee and Memorial Trust, which continues to exist today, providing education to the people of the former Baroda State.
A student of the Faculty of Arts shall be curious about its history, especially as it is home to the second-largest dome in India. Robert Fellowes Chisholm designed the main structure in the Indo-Saracenic architectural style. It includes Indian and Byzantine arches and domes, a composition of brick and polychrome stone. Inspiration from the huge dome of Bijapur’s Gol Gumbaz is visible in the main dome of the convocation hall. This massive dome is 40 feet high with a magnificently painted ceiling. The Archaeological Survey of India classifies it as a property that needs restoration. With varying courses in languages and humanities, this faculty is one of the largest and best faculties in Western India.
The university has witnessed many great scholars who have studied and taught here. One such prominent figure was Sri Aurobindo. He taught French and served as Vice Principal in 1905 at the then Baroda College of Arts. Other notable figures include the literary scholar and activist G .N. Devy, poet and academic Sitanshu Yashaschandra, artist Gulam Mohammed Sheikh, Vinoba Bhave, M. N. Srinivas, and Nobel Prize winner Venkatraman Ramakrishnan.
In the university, the 89 departments are grouped into 13 faculties and dispersed throughout two rural and four urban university campuses totalling 275 acres. It is home to one of Gujarat’s largest libraries, the Shrimati Hansa Mehta Library. Named after the first Vice Chancellor of MSU, Shrimati Hansa Mehta, the library was founded in 1950. The university also has one of the largest botanical gardens in India, which adds freshness to the place. Trees and plants surround the entire campus and create a pleasant atmosphere. Each faculty and department is connected with well-maintained roads, making it easier for students to walk or drive from one place to another.
One of the greatest and oldest universities in India, MSU stands true to its name with a massive student inflow from all over the country and the world. The university brings pride to the ‘Sanskari Nagri’ – Vadodara, not only the home to the Maharaja Sayajirao University but a lively place for Garba in Navratri.
Do visit MSU Baroda if you get a chance!
Shrimati Hansa Mehta Library
Picture 1 – Source: https://historyofvadodara.in/shrimati-hansa-mehta-library/
Picture 2 – Source: https://www.msubaroda.ac.in/
Fiza Kagzi
Hi, I’m Fiza Kagzi. A postgraduate English literature student with a keen interest in history & culture who aspires to research & teach the same in future. When I’m not seen with a book in my hand, I’m either deeply entrenched in a Korean drama or baking some beautiful cakes and cookies!
Hi, I’m Fiza Kagzi. A postgraduate English literature student with a keen interest in history & culture who aspires to research & teach the same in future. When I’m not seen with a book in my hand, I’m either deeply entrenched in a Korean drama or baking some beautiful cakes and cookies!
