GD Modi College of Arts, Palanpur

About GD Modi College of Arts, Palanpur

Not a very long while ago, Banaskantha District as a whole suffered from age old backwardness. Particularly, backwardness in the field of education was so glaring that once it was described as a 'God -forsaken Country '. Euphemism may still hold good. When the merger took place, Banaskantha District was a land of native states, estates, principalities and jagirs. It was divided on political lines and each native state had its own inimitable style of functioning and its people were moulded accordingly. The merger of princely states brought into being Banaskantha District, as it is today. The process of unification was sudden. Palanpur was made district head quarter. The new challenges arose for Palanpuris. One of them naturally was to provide educational institutions of excellence. Opening up of a college was the principal subject discussed among elite circles of the town.

It took almost fifteen years to materialize the shared views. Some of the Palanpuris, mainly freedom-fighters, lawyers, teachers, retired officers and some leaders from other walks of life gathered with a firm determination to begin first an arts college, with a subsequent desire to add up other faculties such as science and commerce.
Thus commenced B.K.Arts College with hundred students in June-1964. Just after a year Science faculty was added and from June -1979 Commerce courses also commenced. So, by June-1979 the institution became B.K.Arts, Science and Commerce College.

There was acute paucity of funds during first 15 years. Albeit, 9 acres of land was acquired during this period, no funds were available to raise suitable infrastructure. All the three faculties were seated in an old rented building which could hardly accommodate ever -increasing student strength. Members of the District Kelavani Mandal were not only worried, but concerned. They approached Jain diamond tycoons of Bombay, originally hailing from Palanpur, for financial help. The response was over-whelming. They were prepared not only to donate generously, but wanted to become members and trustees with the clear intentions of making our institutions so good as may be comparable with other institutions of excellence.

Accordingly, the constitution of the Mandal was amended in 1979, funds were made available. Foundation stone was laid in 1983 and a huge building was erected by 1986.Faculties of Arts and Commerce were shifted to the new building in 1986.Eventually the laboratories were constructed and Science faculty also moved to the new building.
Meanwhile, considering the very size of the college, bifurcation of the colleges became imminent. Consequently Arts, Science, and Commerce College was bifurcated into two separate colleges -(1) Arts College (2) Science and Commerce College. As per the wishes of principal donors, they were named as-