Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University

The University : An Introduction

Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University was established as a State University vide U.P. State Government notification no. (10)/(865)/15/(75)(85)/64 dated 23 November 1973. It has a rare distinction of taking birth through a powerful popular movement during early seventies in last century. This movement symbolized the hopes and aspirations of the masses of the region of Garhwal for the development through the instrument of higher education. The people of this remote mountainous region agitated for opening a University at a small but historic semi rural town of Srinagar. It was an expression of the quest for empowering their future generations for overcoming endemic economic and social backwardness, geographic and environmental constrains, re-assertion of cultural identity and harnessing of the local natural and human resources for development.
The University has subsequently been upgraded to Central University by an Act of Parliament i.e. the Central Universities Act 2009. The University has thus been entrusted with new responsibilities to guide its students, faculty and all other stakeholders to achieve excellence in academics and strive for all round development of students. Since its inception, the University has shown commitment towards regional and community development which is inherent in its teaching courses, research agenda and other outreach and extension initiatives. The synergy derived from circumstances of its genesis still inspires and promotes its vision for future.

The University, nestled in the lap of Himalayan ranges in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand, is a residential cum affiliating institution of higher learning. It has jurisdication over seven districts of Garhwal region of Uttarakhand.

The University has three Campuses distantly located from each other –

1. Birla Campus, Srinagar Garhwal with its extension at Chauras Campus,

2. B. Gopal Reddy (BGR) Campus, Pauri

3. Swami Ram Teerth (SRT) Campus, Badshahithaul, Tehri.

In all three campuses of the University the undergraduate, post-graduate and research programmes are being offered in different disciplines. Besides, conventional courses under different streams of studies the Univesity has introduced some regionally relevant courses that are of importance for the region inparticularandmountains in general.
Area and People Served

• Socio-Cultural
  Ranging from highly modernized urban social environment with benefits of technological advances to highly traditional and impairing rural social environment with constrained /limited/deprived affects.

• Economic
  Generally middle-class, lower middle-class, and economically weaker sections of society.

• Natural Environment
  Ranging from polluted concrete jungles of cities and industrial centers to the blessed serenity of Himalayan ridges/valleys rich in biodiversity, and calm, quiet atmosphere, conducive to good health and pursuit of knowledge.

• Education
  On one extreme, stand certain reputed private schools of Dehradun, Nainital, and Mussoorie, and on the other, many government schools in rural and inaccessible areas lacking basic infrastructure, human resource, and facilities.