Banasthali Vidyapith

Banasthali Vidyapith was founded on October 6, 1935 by eminent freedom fighters and educationists, Pt. Hiralal Shastri, the first chief minister of Rajasthan and Smt. Ratan Shastri, the recipient of Padma Bhushan who was also honoured by Jamna Lal Bajaj award for her services to the cause of women's education. The institution, known world over for its dedication to the noble cause of women education was declared an institution 'deemed to be university' in 1983 by the Govt. of India.
While NAAC has re-accredited Banasthali Vidyapith with the highest possible grade ‘A’ level in 2011, the ‘Review Committee (Tandon Committee) of Ministry of HRD' has also appreciated the overall efforts of Vidyapith in areas of Institutional Governance, Academic Achievements, Research, Student Progression, Infrastructure etc. and has categorized Banasthali Vidyapith under ‘Category A’ list of ‘Institutions deemed to be university’ in the year 2010.
If aspects like exclusive dedication to women education, fully residential character, rural surrounding amidst its own sprawling campus of 850 acres, range of courses from Nursery to Ph.D., national representation of students, focus on Indian ethos and culture are considered in totality, then there is no institution like Banasthali Vidyapith in the entire country. The former Hon’ble Governor, Smt. Kamla Beniwal, former speaker of Loksabha, Smt. Meira Kumar, former speaker of Vidhansabha Smt. Sumitra Singh, Padma Shree Smt. Binny Yanga, Asian marathon champion Smt. Sunita Godara and Chief People Officer of Reliance Entertainment, Smt. Saagarika Ghosal to name a few are amongst our alumni.
Banasthali strives to honor the vision and mission of its founders. The Informal Education Centre, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, the Community College and Radio Banasthali (the first community radio station in a university), are some of its community welfare platforms through which Vidyapith is rendering services towards rural reconstruction and social development. Banasthali has sustained its unique secular heritage and its zeal for promoting nationalism. It continues to preserve, promote and enrich the cultural ethos and national integrity in its campus by celebrating the cultural festivals of all the religions with equal fervor. Apart from this, Vidyapith teaches the students to respect the nation by celebrating all national days.
Banasthali has a fully self contained and self sufficient campus. It has its own well equipped hospital, ‘Apaji Arogya Mandir’ with 60 beds, well qualified doctors and competent staff working round the clock. The campus has a Post Office, two nationalised bank branches -State Bank of India and UCO Bank, ATM kiosks of SBI, UCO, ICICI banks. Banasthali also caters to the day to day needs of life through markets with book shops, general stores, canteens, medical stores, etc.
The campus has world-class infrastructure housing 18 academic blocks, 32 hostels for students and more than 400 staff quarters. Vidyapith has licensed air strip of 50,191, 418 sq. meter, its own fleet of aircrafts and a well recognized and approved aviation school ‘Banasthali Vidyapith Gliding and Flying Club’, wherein students have been trained in gliding and flying since 1960s. Vidyapith also trains girls in horse riding, and has stable for 56 horses and a 25,390 sq. meter of field devoted for this very purpose.
Belief in simple living and high thinking has been the hallmark of Banasthali since its inception. Vidyapith has kept pace with the changing times but has never compromised with its principles. Khadi wearing continues to be the way of life in Banasthali.