Gujarat Vidyapeeth will invite Governor Acharya Devvrat to take over as Chancellor.
Acharya Devvrat is an Indian politician and former academician serving as the 20th Governor of Gujarat. He is a preacher of the Arya Samaj and earlier served as the Principal of a Gurukul in Kurukshetra, Haryana. He is also the chancellor of state universities of Gujarat
Ela Bhatt, 89, recently resigned as chancellor citing her age and urged trustees to look for a replacement.
Gujarat Vidyapeeth, founded by Mahatma Gandhi in 1920, said on Tuesday that its governing council has decided to approach state Governor Acharya Devvrat and request him to take over as the university’s 12th chancellor. In its evening meeting that lasted several hours, the Governing Council decided to accept the resignation of sitting chancellor Ela Bhatt, a Gandhian, social activist and founder of the Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) – which works for the organisation. Low-income, self-employed women workers.
The Ahmedabad-based university said in a statement, “The governing council of Gujarat Vidyapeeth met on October 4. After detailed discussion, it was decided to accept the resignation tendered by Chancellor Ela Bhatt and respect his sentiments,” the Ahmedabad-based university said in a statement. It further stated that Ela Bhatt will hold the post till October 19.
It was also decided by majority vote to invite Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat as the 12th Chancellor of Gujarat Vidyapeeth. A delegation of Gujarat Vidyapeeth will go to invite the Governor,” the statement said. Ela Bhatt (aged 89), recently resigned from the post of Chancellor citing her advanced age and requested the trustees to find her replacement. The Ramon Magsaysay awardee was chosen to lead the Gandhian organization in March 2015 following the resignation of then Chancellor Narayan Desai.
Gujarat Vidyapeeth was founded by Mahatma Gandhi on October 18, 1920 and he served as its Chancellor for life. After him, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Dr. Eminent figures like Rajendra Prasad and Morarji Desai graced the post of Chancellor of the 102-year-old university. Acharya Devvrat took charge as the Governor of Gujarat in June 2019. Before that, he served as the Governor of Himachal Pradesh.