BLDEA's Vachana Pitamaha Dr. P.G Halakatti College of Engg & Tech., Bijapur

The Bijapur Liberal District Education Association is a premier society in this part of the state, founded in 1910 (and dualy registered under the Bombay Registration of societies act of 1860 in 1914) for the purpose of spreading education, on the model of the Deccan Education Society of Poona, in the old Bombay state. An allied object envisaged by the founding fathers was the promotion of religious, scientific and general literature. The association meant to accomplish the twin objectives by starting schools and colleges instituting scholarships and prizes, by running free houses and hostels for the deserving poor of the district. In operation, the association has restricted itself to the northern part of the district with as its base, leaving to a sister premier institution, viz the B.V.V. Sangha of Bagalkot to accomplish the similar mission in the southern part.

It began, as all great undertakings must do, in a small way, with running a High School viz. the New English School (now the Sri Siddeshwar Higher Secondary School), handed over to it by a German mission which was leaving the country on the outback of a world war - I. It opened its first collegiate institution (The old Vijaya College, later renamed as S B Arts & K.C.P science college) in the year 1945, under the Bombay university, it was not an easy task. The association did not have enough bank balance to show to the visiting university commission as a guarantee of its viability. But the merchants of Bijapur, notable among whom was late Sri M.K.Surpur, MLA came forward to collect the requisite amount to see it through the crises.

If the association has good fortune of having Rao Bahadur P.G. HALAKATTl (Late came to the known by soubcriquet, "Vachana Pithamaha") to guide its destinies in the initial years, it had, equally fortunately , his holiness the Shivyogi of Bhantnal as its president for an unbroken 26 years from 1943 to 1969. It was the Swamiji's vision that won the members over to the idea of having a liberal arts college in Bijapur. It is in greatful acknowledgement or his missionary zeal & untiring effects in putting Bijapur on the educational map of the country that the arts section of the college came to be named after him (the initials S. B. stands for Sanganbasava).

The principle source of funds for the associations activities in those days came from to drive up, what with Bijapur being chronically prone to famine and other factors. The crisis was further deepened in the 50's & early 60's by the deficit based grant in aid code (as against expenditure GIA in the old Bombay state) brought into force by the Karnataka Government following the model of the old Madras government. Those where days of trial & testing for the association, hence staff salaries remained in arrears for two months, three months and so on. During this crucial period the-late Shri B.M. Patil happened to be General Seceratry. He took some radical steps to redeem the image of the association & institution run by it. However to put the colleges permanently on the even keel would have been difficult and B L D E A was not alone in facing such a crises, all private management of educational institutions did. But while some managements may not have lost sleep over the problem. Shri B.M. Patil took it as a personal challenge and saved the situation until a revised GIA (with 100% staff salary grant) was brought in. But for his dynamic leadership, the tremendous expansion in educational activity in recent years and diversification into technical professional fields would not have come about. It is there fore,quite appropriate that the Medical college named in greatful memory of late Shri B.M. Patil.

Even with the advent of freedom and the accelerated face of the development in all spheres of national life, progress of the association had been halting and slow because of drying up of sources of income. It had added only a commerce college in 1961 (made possible by the minificent donation by the late Shri Siddangouda Patil of Atalatti), and Arts and Science college at Jhamakandi in 1963, and an Arts college at Bijapur in 1969, besides a few high schools Scattered over the district. But with the trend of rising expectations set in motion by economic development and heightened awareness among the public the vision of association leadership had perforce to take cognizance of societies diversifying educational needs and aspirations and provide for their fulfillment Today, the association runs 11 high Schools, 6 Pre-university Colleges, 6 Degree colleges, a college of Education, a Medical college (with PG courses and a research wing), a college of Engineering and Technology, 9 institutes imparting professional education college of Business Management, college of Nursing, College of Pharmacy etc.), a Polytechnic and 12 centers providing professional training (Sericulture Training, Commercial Arts course, Computer Science Course etc.).
The total strength of staff working in various colleges on the Smt. Bangaramma Sajjan Campus (so named after the donor of 54 acres of land to the association) is 1300 & the Number of students studying in these institutions is around 25000.

The college complex has a central library, with three separate establishment pertaining to the Arts and Science college, B. Ed college and the Medical college, housed in three different stores of a building constructed out of a UGC grant. The engineering college has its Library on its own premises Taken together the number of volumes runs to 3,00,000.

The association in its present form, with the whole complex of colleges of nearly all the facilities clustered on a single campus, its roots and branches extending far into the districts, resembles the mighty Indian Banyan tree. This phenomenon growth has not come about through a wave of magic wand, but by the continued sacrifices of a number of philanthropic souls the unflinching efforts of a dedicated band of workers, the social service motivation of the entire team, old and new, and, needless to add the vision and the dynamism of its leadership Presidents, Chairmen, General secretaries, past and present.

It may be added in conclusion, that the pioneering efforts of association, its achievements and excellence. The associations Medical College was first to be given recognition by the M.C.I. among colleges of equal standing, and its engineering is rated on one of the best equipped in the state, not to speak of the older institutions, which have made their own name have failed to evoke adequate appreciation from either the Government or university. The association's voice, and the voices of similar institutions, built up on self ­sacrifice and the service motive, should be heard with respect, for they have filled the role all the bases of voluntarism and altruism which, if not shouldered by them would have in the ultimate resort, devolved on the government itself