History- AES & AGTC

Legacy of AES

The Ahmedabad Education Society (AES) came into being neither accidentally nor a day too soon. The compelling reason for its immediate establishment was a national urgency to institute an educational organisation that would foster positive national aspirations in the young generation. At the time of its establishment there was only one college in Ahmedabad, namely the Gujarat College which was run by an alien Government. Naturally, therefore the administration of this one and the only college was wholly apathetic to the National yearnings and aspirations of the youths of the country. The friction of the students of the Gujarat College with its British Principals during the twenties and thirties has become a chapter of our national movement. Enlightened and patriotically minded citizens of Ahmedabad lost no time in recognising the need for a collegiate institution that would fulfil the educational needs of the people fostering at the same time their sense of patriotism. Chief among them were the Late Shri G.V. Mavlankar, Shri Balvantrai P. Thakore and Shri Jivanlal Diwan, greatly assisted by Sheth Shri Amritlal Hargovandas and Late Shri Harilal Vadilal Kapadia. By the indefatigable efforts of these five great patriots and educational workers and their friends as also by the financial and other supports of the citizens of Ahmedabad, the Ahmedabad Education Society came to be established with the specific objective of promoting higher learning devoted to the cause of national service. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel blessed it and the Late Acharya Anandshanker Dhruv inspired it. Thus it was that the Ahmedabad Education Society was registered as a public trust on the 15th May 1935.

With these lofty ideals and considerations, educational devotees every day roamed in the streets of Ahmedabad with a handbag to collect donations and registered 300 members of the Society within a few months. This popular support opened the way for larger donations from philanthropists and industrialists of Gujarat. Late Shri Bhaskarrao Motilal Medh was appointed the first Chairman of the Governing Body of the Society and Late Sarvashri Balvantrai Thakore, Jivanlal Diwan and G. V. Mavlankar were among the members of the Governing Body.

In September 1936, the office-bearers were formally elected in accordance with the constitution of the Ahmedabad Education Society. Late Dr. Anandshanker Dhruv was elected its President, and Late Shri Bhaskarrao Medh, the Vice-President of the Society. Sheth Shri Kasturbhai Lalbhai was elected as the Chairman of the Governing Body and Late Shri Jivanlal Diwan was elected as the Secretary of the Society.

After establishing Arts, Science & Commerce graduate institutes, AES expanded its sphere in June, 1952 by starting Acharatlal Girdharlal Teachers College from the donation of Rs. 4 Lacs from the Trustees of the Acharatlal Girdharlal Charities Trust, the first teacher’s training college of Gujarat. The AES offers exemplary tutelage in fields as diverse as Arts, Commerce, Science, Pharmacy, Architecture, Planning, Business Administration, Computer Application, Management, Teacher Education and School Education and more.