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The Mountains are calling and I must go… #AcademicTour #Junagadh #2019




The Mountains are calling and I must go…

Recently I had a delightful experience of visiting Junagadh for Academic tour organized by Department of English, Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University. Being a Research Scholar and a Faculty member, this was my first tour in a different role. It is said that a physician treats but nature heals. It is absolutely true. Stuck in health issues for so many months, and finally the mountains were calling and I had to go. I feel rejuvenate after this trip.

The best part about academic tour is that you not only visit historical and important places, but you visit so many academic Institutions, meet so many learned teachers and students.

This tour was planned for two days; 5th and 6th February. We started on 5th early morning and were back on 6th at night. There we visited many marvelous places and I would like to separate it as given beneath. As it is academic visit, let me start with it.

Academic Institutions
1.)  Bahauddin Arts College-

Bahauddin Arts College is one of the oldest Government Arts colleges in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat state. The foundation stone of the college was laid by Colonel J.M. Hunter on 25th March, 1897, the building was formally inaugurated by Lord Curzon, the then Viceroy, on 3rd November, 1900. The college is famous for its historical architecture. Many literary figures are outcome of that college. The finest part for us was that our teacher Dr.Dilip Barad Sir also studied in this college.

 Many of our students like Hema Goswami, Ramiz Solanki and Dhaval Diyora interacted with other students over there.
Being a Research Scholar, my eyes always go in the search of books. College had a wonderful Library. There was a collection of oldest books. Among which I also found some important book for my research. 


The Computer Lab was well maintained and decorated by the students.
Thanks to the Faculty members over here for such warm welcome and yummy breakfast.
                                                 
2.)  Rupayatan –
Rupayatan is a residency school at Bhavnath in Junagadh. Rupayatan was founded by Ratubhai Adani, a well-known freedom fighter and now managed by the trustee Hemant Nanavati. Rupayatan gives the free education to less privileged students. Surrounded by Mountains, this is breath taking place to give education to beautiful souls. 

It was amazing to see that students were very intelligent there. Many of our students interacted with them through songs and games. It was very unforgettable time there. At some places you find so much peace and incredible energy, where your soul feels happy. This was one of that place. We all had fun there.

3.)  Bhakt Kavi Narsinh Mehta University-

Bhakta Kavi Narsinh Mehta University (BKNMU), Junagadh, (Gujarat) India, came into existence in 2015 by the provision of visionary Government of Gujarat. The University is named after the great Adi Kavi of Gujarati literature Shree Narsinh Mehta. The Department of English,BKNMU established in the year 2017. 

 Though being a new university, its progress is note taking. The involvement and motivation of faculty members - Prof.(Dr.) Chetan.N.Trivedi (Head of the Department and now I/c Vice Chancellor), Dr. Firoz Shaikh (Associate Professor), Dr. Rupa Dangar (Assistant  Professor) and Dr.Om Joshi (Assistant  Professor) can be visible in the progress of Students.


Students managed and organized the event excellently with teachers. Students of BKNMU; Radha Gohel, Shradha Vadodariya, Meera Jadeja, Disha Kariya, Kalindi Gagiani and Hiral Majmudar presented different poems, thoughts, knowledge expansion, presentation on Innovative Activity and Teaching in 21st Century.
The finest experience of extension activity is that students get to know each other well. Our students like Ramiz Solanki and Hema Goswami also presented about ICT in Education and Digital Documentation. Also a fellow research scholar Mr.Clement gave a presentation on Academic Writing.


We didn’t really feel out of the place, as the tradition of our Department like Daily Schedule was also practiced there. Thanks to Dr.Purnimaben Mehta to begin this tradition.

Historical Sites
1.)  Uparkot-

Uparkot is a fort located in Junagadh. A fort and town was established at the foothills of Girnar hill during reign of the Maurya Empire and continued to be used during Gupta period, but it lost its importance when the capital of Saurashtra region was moved from Junagadh to Vallabhi by Maitrakas.
The fort has some of the interesting architectural buildings, lakes, step wells, caves and monuments like The Tomb of Nuri Shah, Adi Kadi Vav, Navghan Kuvo, 2nd-3rd century Buddhist caves and Nawabi Lake.



We all were mesmerized to see the architecture structure and so beautifully it was executed by the architectures of that time. The good time we had was when our teacher Dr.Dilip Barad Sir took the photo of the year at Nawabi Lake. Students and I were amazed with this. #KhatroKeKhiladi
2.)  Ashok Shilalekh-

                Ashok Shilalekh in Junagadh is one particular rock edict of Ashoka. On                         the rock, the 14 inscriptions of Emperor Ashoka are written in the Pali                          language. This place has its own historical value and it be must see once.

3.)  Mahbat Makbara-

Mahabat  Maqbara Palace, also Mausoleum of Bahaduddinbhai Hasainbhai, is a mausoleum in Junagadh, India, that was once home to the Muslims rulers the Nawabs of Junagadh. It was built by Nawab Mahabat Khan II of Junagadh (1851–82).
The structure itself reveals the story of the past.

4.)  Wellington Dam-



This dam was built in the ancient British time on river Kalwa. It is one of the water supplier to the city and agriculture field. There are many crocodiles in the river so one should avoid going near the water.

Apart from these place, we also visited Sakarbaug (Zoo), Bharati Ashram, Bhavnath Temple and Damodar Kund.


Overall the academic tour was very successful thanks to all the teachers and management team of different organizations. Special thanks to my students for coordinating things very well.

A Big Thank You to Dr.Dilip Barad Sir for always motivating us and opening new ways to explore and making us experience something out of the box.

Miles to go before I sleep....

PC: Devika Baraiya, Dr.Om Joshi, Dr.Dilip Barad

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