Dr. Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya, Sagar

Doctor Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya Sagar (A Central University), formerly University of Saugor, was established on 18th July 1946 by Dr. Sir Hari Singh Gour (Nov. 26, 1870 – Dec. 25, 1949) by his lifetime savings. This 18th University of India and the oldest and the biggest  University of Madhya Pradesh has perhaps the singular distinction of being founded by the munificence of a single person’s hard earned money of about two crore of rupees.  Apart from being a great jurist and legal luminary par excellence, he was a great Patriot, Philanthropist, Educationist and Social Reformer.

Dr. Hari Singh Gour was the first Vice-Chancellor of University of Delhi (1922 to 1926) and first Dean (1924) of The Faculty of Law in the University of Delhi. Dr. Hari Singh Gour also held the position of Vice-Chancellor of the Nagpur University, (two times in 1928 and 1936).

Dr. Gour was the founder Vice–Chancellor of the Sagar University (1946). The Govt. of India honored his memory by issuing a commemorative postage stamp in 1976. The University was rechristened as Doctor Hari Singh Gour Vishwavidyalaya in February 1983 by the State Legislature. The University is situated 5 Km east of Sagar city and its campus covers an area of 1312.89 acres over Pathariya hills connected to the Vindhya Range, surrounded by lush green forest (about 100 acres) within its campus and has effectively contributed to the maintenance and preservation of ecosystem and its biodiversity. It is one of the finest picturesque campuses in India. 

It has 36 University teaching departments (number keeps adding) 11 schools and 19 affiliated colleges covering various districts of M.P. There are 4 hostels for boys (940 seats) and two hostels for girls ( app. 400 seats). State Bank of India. Post office, STD booth, Employment and Guidance Bureau, 3 canteens including fully furnished Indian Coffee House (ICH)  and a shopping complex provide auxiliary services in the campus. The Jawaharlal Nehru Library of the University has more than 4,00,000 books.

As many as 26 departments have their own departmental libraries. Apart from conventional degree, post graduate and research courses, Geology, Pharmacy, Criminology & Forensic Science, Anthropology, Performing Arts, Journalism & Mass Communication, Adult Education, Electronics, Business Management, Microbiology, Biotechnology and Computer Applications are some of the  special subjects, which attract a large number of students from the four corners of  the country. The Institute of Distance Education of the University runs various self-finance, Correspondence Courses  such as P.G. Diploma in Environmental Management, Personal Management, International Business and Export Management, Psychological Counselling, Yoga and Meditation, Yoga and Psychotherapy, Yoga and Naturopathy. The University has a center of Indira Gandhi Open University, Audiovisual Research Centre, Central Instrumentation Laboratory, Shrimant B.S. Jain Centre for Research and  Education in Psychology, and Population Research Centre created by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India . Muktibodh Peetha in the Department of  Hindi has been created by the Govt. of M.P. The Botanical Survey of India has considered the Botanical Gardens of the University as the richest amongst those of Indian Universities. Madhya Bharati, the research journal of the University and the Bulletin of the Botanical Society of the University are internationally abstracted. The research journals from the Dept. of Sanskrit Sagarika and Natyam have pride of place amongst the Indological journals of the country. “Isuri” the journal from the Bundeli Peeth of Hindi Department is a perennial source of Bundelkhandi art and culture. The discovery of an impression Edicaranfossil Spriggina by the Applied Geology Department has created much interest internationally. The NAAC appointed by UGC has awarded ‘A’ Grade re-accreditation to this University. This University is declared as a Central University w.e.f. 15th Jan 2009.