Brief History of Dayanand Anglo Vedic PG College, Dehradun

Modern Indian Education began with the establishment of British rule in India. Macaulay’s policy of English medium education is the precursor to modern education in Indian sub-continent. Sir Charles Wood issued recommendations in favour of universities in his educational despatch. The first three universities viz : Calcutta, Bombay and Madras then came into existence in 1857, the year of the great Indian upheaval. The number of colleges grew after 1857. The pressure of students passing out of secondary schools necessitated the foundation of new colleges. Since college education and a degree from a university proved a sure passport to service, the public demanded colleges at many places. In 1882, Bengal Presidency possessed 27 colleges, Madras 25, The North Western Provinces 11, Bombay 6, Punjab 2 and Central Provinces 1. In all the colleges numbered 72.

From 1857 to 1882, the Universities of Calcutta, Bombay and Madras continued to function as the first three universities of India. During that period opinion developed in the Punjab for a university for Oriental learning with the Vernacular language as the medium of instruction. In pursuance of the proposals, a University College was established at Lahore in 1869 which was raised to the status of a university in 1882 and called the Punjab University by a special Act of Incorporation. College education too showed great progress. In 1887 the Allahabad University came into existence which had the distinction of being called as ‘Oxford of the East’. The demand for college education was therefore incessant. In 1875, at the inspiration of Sir Sayed Ahmad Khan, the Muhammaden Anglo-Oriental College was established at Aligarh. Contributions were collected from the Muhammaden Community and their leaders to develop this college which subsequently converted into Aligarh Muslim University. 

At the same time the ground for national awakening was being prepared by a great son of Mother India, Swami Dayanand Saraswati, who had been hailed as a ‘soldier of light’ and designated as ‘a unique renovator and new creator by Sri Aurobindo. Swami Dayanand Saraswati ranks among the greatest makers of new India. He told his countrymen that if they wanted to rise they must develop character and this will to be great. The Arya Samaj which he founded in 1875 aims at the formation of a new national character on the basis of the Vedic Ideal. The next branch of the samaj came into being at Lahore in 1877. The educational work of the Arya Samaj is very extensive. It maintains a large number of schools and first grade colleges for both boys and girls. In 1886 the samaj established the Dayanand Anglo-Vedic College at Lahore to encourage learning in the best tradition of Aryan culture, side by side with the progressive knowledge of the West. Next came D.A.V. Colleges at Kanpur and Dehradun. 

 Through there educational institution and efforts at social reforms and the establishment of orphanages for the protection of Hindu orphan and by organising relief work during natural calamities such as droughts, floods, earthquakes etc. the samaj has rendered yeoman service to the Hindus and made them self reliant and courageous to a great extent. Mahatma Hansraj, the founder Principal of D.A.V. School at Lahore was a man of principles and scruples. It was he who motivated people extensively and due to his blessings. D.A.V. School at Kanpur was established in due course of time. This Yogi with his unflinching dedication brought education to a new horizon. It was he who elevated the status of D.A.V. Institution to that of Oxford and Cambridge and instilled unlimited confidence in his students who could easily be compared with the best in the contemporary world. His indomitable personality changed the meaning of modern education.D.A.V. College boasts of having the symbol of ‘Aum’, the Vedic name of God at its forehead. 

‘Aum’ depicts Savita, the synonym of Sun-God of light that constantly spreads light in every nook and corner of the college precinct.  The nomenclature of D.A.V. College carries with it the amalgamation of Vedic and English Education that speaks of the urgency which necessitated the ongoing demand of modern education without disturbing the value based vedic education.The college was first established as a school in Meerut in 1892 in the memory of Maharshi Dayanand. But due to paucity of funds the school could not function smoothly. The then manager of the school Jyoti Swaroop ji, an eminent lawyer decided to shift this school to Dehradun where he himself settled and began his legal profession on a high note. Thakur Puran Singh Ji, who was close to Jyoti Swaroop Ji than donated his entire land that cost Rs. 2,00,000 paving way for the shifting of D.A.V. School from Meerut in 1911 at the present site. 

The year 1922 saw the elevation of the school into intermediate college which later transformed into Degree college in 1946 and Post Graduate College in 1948. The college is managed by Dayanand Shiksha Sansthan, Kanpur (U.P.) under the able steward ship of present secretary Sri Jagendra Swaroop ji, M. L. C.,The entire cost of construction was borne by Th. Puran Singh Negi Ji which amounted to Rs. 40,000. The architecture of the main building reminds us of the Oriental Pattern where main facade is decorated with spade like projections making the lace work on the arch. The top of the facade is beautified with Kiosks and Cupolas. The work was engineered by the best architect and masons available in the town. The foundation was laid by Mr. Meston the then Lt. Governor of U.P. and Oudh in the year 1916..

The college has the distinction of nurturing galaxy of illuminaries Sir Shiv Sagar Ram Ghulam – Former Prime Minister of Mauritius, Sri Lokesh Bahadur Chand – Former Primer Minister or Nepal, (Late) Sri H. N. Bahuguna, (Late) Sri Bhakta Darshan, (Late) Sri Mahavir Tyagi, (Late) Sri Brahma Dutt, all cabinet minister, in Govt. of India, (Late) Gen. B. C. Joshi – Chief of the Army Staff, Mr. Bachchendri Pal – Everest Conqueror to name a few.Presently college accommodates roughly 30,000 students. The college is providing research facilities in almost every department. Many projects are being undertaken under the aegis of UGC, ICSSR, ICMR, ONGC etc. Majority of University toppers in various subjects. Mail from D.A.V. College making it one of the finest edifices of higher education in the entire hill state of Uttarakhand.

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