https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Gandhigram_Rural_InstituteGandhigram Rural Institute - Revision history2026-07-31T11:10:12ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Gandhigram_Rural_Institute&diff=452560&oldid=prevJeep Safari at 00:31, 14 November 20252025-11-14T00:31:33Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Deemed university in Dindigul, India}}<br />
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{{Infobox university<br />
| name = Gandhigram Rural Institute<br />
| other_name = GRI<br />
| image = {{Not a typo|A.P.J. Abdul Kalam presenting a citation to Padma Vibhushan Shri Adoor Gopalakrishnan, an alumnus of the Gandhigram Rural Institute at a function held at Gandhigram Rural University in Tamil Nadu on September 23, 2006.jpg}}<!-- Do not change the spelling of the file! --><br />
| image_size = 150px<br />
| caption = Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam in an event in the institute<br />
| latin_name = <br />
| motto = <br />
| mottoeng = <br />
| established = {{start date and age|1956}}<ref name="AboutGRI">{{Cite web |title=The Gandhigram Rural Institute – Deemed University |url=https://www.ruraluniv.ac.in/aboutgri?content=profile |access-date=2024-05-19 |website=ruraluniv.ac.in }}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><br />
| endowment = <br />
| budget = <br />
| chancellor = Dr. KM. ANNAMALAI<ref name="Chancellor">{{cite web |url=https://www.ruraluniv.ac.in/administration?content=chancellor |title=Chancellor}}</ref><br />
| vice_chancellor = Dr. N. Panchanatham<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.ruraluniv.ac.in/Governance?content=System |title=The Gandhigram Rural Institute – Deemed University}}</ref><br />
| students = <br />
| undergrad = <br />
| postgrad = <br />
| other = <br />
| city = [[Gandhigram, Tamil Nadu|Gandhigram]], [[Dindigul]]<br />
| country = [[India]]<br />
| campus = Rural<br />
| colours = <br />
| faculty = <br />
| affiliations = [[Ministry of Human Resource Development]], UGC of India<br />
| website = {{Official website|www.ruraluniv.ac.in}}<br />
}}<br />
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'''The Gandhigram Rural Institute''' ('''GRI''') is a centrally-funded [[deemed university]] in [[Dindigul]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]].<br />
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== History ==<br />
GRI was founded by [[G. Ramachandran (social reformer)|G. Ramachandran]] and his wife [[T. S. Soundaram|T.S. Soundaram]], in 1956. It adopted the education model of [[Mahatma Gandhi]], [[Nai Talim]]. In 1976, it was declared a [[Deemed University]] by the [[University Grants Commission (India)|University Grants Commission]] (UGC) under Section 3 of the [[University Grants Commission Act, 1956|UGC Act, 1956]]. It is fully funded by the UGC.<br />
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In 2006, it was renamed Gandhigram Rural Institute as per the guidelines of UGC.<br />
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The institute has developed into a major educational complex, comprising seven faculties, offering more than 50 programmes. It awards [[doctoral]], [[Master's degree|master's]] and [[bachelor's degree]]s, diplomas, and certificates through its seven academic faculties: rural development, rural economics and extension education, rural-oriented sciences, cooperation, development administration, rural sociology, and English, Tamil and Indian languages.<br />
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It has 3000 students, 150 teaching and 250 non-teaching staff.<br />
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The institute was accredited with a five-star status by the [[National Assessment and Accreditation Council]] (NAAC) in 2002, and with an A grade during re-accreditation in 2010 and 2016.<ref name="AboutGRI" /><br />
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== Campus ==<br />
The Gandhigram Rural Institute has a campus of nearly {{convert|200|acre|km2}} in a rural setting, nestling in one of the enclaves of the Sirumalai range. To its west are chains of mountains including the Kodaikanal Hill Station. Lying north of Madurai, Gandhigram is easily accessible by rail and road. The climate is hot throughout the year.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Gandhigram Rural Institute – Deemed University |url=https://www.ruraluniv.ac.in/aboutgri?content=campus |access-date=2024-05-19 |website=ruraluniv.ac.in}}</ref><br />
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== Alumni ==<br />
* [[K. R. Meera]], Indian Writer<br />
* [[Raghavan (actor)]], Malayalam film industry<br />
* [[Adoor Gopalakrishnan]], Prominent director<br />
* Pocker Kadalundi, Journalist<br />
* [[Dr. E.Desingu Setty]], Professor and Author<br />
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== Transport ==<br />
The nearest railway station is [[Ambathurai]], the nearest major railway junction is [[Dindigul Junction railway station|Dindigul]] and the nearest major city is [[Madurai]]. The nearest airport is [[Madurai Airport]].<br />
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== Rankings ==<br />
Gandhigram Rural Institute was ranked 91 among universities in India by the [[National Institutional Ranking Framework]] (NIRF) in 2020,<ref>{{Cite web |title=MoE, National Institute Ranking Framework (NIRF) |url=https://www.nirfindia.org/2020/UniversityRanking.html |access-date=2024-05-19 |website=nirfindia.org |archive-date=28 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210628054704/https://www.nirfindia.org/2020/UniversityRanking.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> rank 101–150 in 2021<ref>{{Cite web |title=MoE, National Institute Ranking Framework (NIRF) |url=https://www.nirfindia.org/2021/UniversityRanking150.html |access-date=2024-05-19 |website=nirfindia.org}}</ref> and rank 151-200 in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title=MoE, National Institute Ranking Framework (NIRF) |url=https://www.nirfindia.org/2022/UniversityRanking200.html |access-date=2024-05-19 |website=nirfindia.org}}</ref><br />
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== Former chancellors ==<br />
* [[P. B. Gajendragadkar]], seventh Chief Justice of India<br />
* [[T. S. Soundram]], Indian physician and politician<br />
* [[R. Venkatraman]], eighth President of India<br />
* [[Shankar Dayal Sharma]], eighth Vice President of India<br />
* [[K.R. Narayanan]], tenth President of India<br />
* [[Krishan Kant]], tenth Vice President of India<br />
* [[Bhairon Singh Shekhawat]], eleventh Vice President of India<br />
* [[Mohammad Hamid Ansari]], twelfth Vice President of India<br />
* [[Renana Jhabvala]], social worker in India<br />
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== Former vice chancellors ==<br />
* [[G. Ramachandran (social reformer)|G. Ramachandran]], social reformer<br />
* [[M. Aram]], educator and peace activist<br />
* Devendra Kumar<br />
* D. K. Oza<br />
* T. R. Natesan<br />
* N. Markandan<br />
* G. Pankajam<br />
* [[T. Karunakaran]]<br />
* Sm. Ramasamy<br />
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== References ==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
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== External links ==<br />
* {{Official website|www.ruraluniv.ac.in}}<br />
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{{Education in Tamil Nadu}}<br />
{{Authority control}}<br />
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{{Coord|10.27958|77.933412|display=title}}<br />
[[Category:Gandhigram Rural Institute]]<br />
[[Category:1956 establishments in Madras State]]<br />
[[Category:Education in Dindigul district]]<br />
[[Category:Universities and colleges established in 1956]]</div>Jeep Safari