A Journey Towards Excellence Faculty of Technology and Engineering Kalabhavan

Baroda is the cultural capital of Gujarat with a long and illustrious history of dynamic rulers who propelled the growth and development of the city. The city has cradled education and various forms of arts since ages. Nestled in this inspiring city is one of the largest residential universities in the country- The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda. Though its roots were laid in late 1800s, the university was established in 1949 and has flourished over the years and diversified into various disciplines.

The Faculty of Technology including Engineering (FTE) was instituted as a Faculty at the time of inception of The Maharaja Sayajirao University (MSU) in 1949 and it is an outgrowth of Kalabhavan Technical Institute (KBTI) established on 25 March 1890 by Huzur order of Late His Highness Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III of Baroda state. In March 2015, the Faculty of Technology and Engineering has completed one hundred and twenty five glorious years of service for the cause of technical education.

The Faculty of Technology and Engineering, the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, one of the premier technical institutes of the country, was set up with the goal of imparting education and training as well as fostering research in different areas of Engineering and Technology in state-of-art facilities.

The seeds of this premier institute were sown in 1890 with modest but novel objective of producing skilled artisans and apprentices by imparting instruction in local language in the following fields: (a) Civil, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering (b) Drawing and Printing, Architecture and Photo engraving (c) Textile Chemistry including dyeing, bleaching, sizing & printing, oil and soap making, etc., with the assistance of German experts and foreign trained teachers under the able stewardship of Principal Shri T. K. Gajjar. Other courses in Textile Technology (weaving), Furniture making and Fine Arts were instituted later. Principal Shri C. H. Vora consolidated these pioneering efforts by introducing a variety of Diploma and Certificate courses in the above major disciplines, with additional staff, laboratories and buildings. These efforts catalyzed the grant of polytechnic status to the institute. The Polytechnic continued to run in KBTI until 1957 and was later shifted to separate premises. KBTI was subsequently renamed as the Faculty of Technology and Engineering. From this stage onwards, the Institute grew rapidly knowing no bounds. The Faculty is at present running 13 undergraduate and 32 postgraduate as well as Ph.D. programs in different disciplines. The academic growth resulted in the creation of 15 Departments, a Workshop, a Library and several buildings. This was made possible due to the financial support mainly from Government of Gujarat, FGMI, UGC, AICTE, DST, TIFAC, DBT, ICMR, CSIR, DAE/BRNS and aided by UNDP, USAID and other government agencies and also due to dedicated efforts by the institute, Deans, Heads of the departments and faculty members. It has taken more than a century of dedicated efforts of a few pioneers and visionaries to raise old Kalabhavan to the stature of a mighty Technical Institute in the forefront of technical education committed to the service of the nation. The learned faculty at the institute has had magnetic influence on students seeking an opportunity in technical education. The institute is ranked amongst the most preferred one for technical education in Gujarat. Together, the students and the faculty have created an atmosphere breeding excellence and competence. We strive to attain the highest standard of education and research while preserving our ethical and cultural values. Untiring and meticulous efforts and support from all corners will definitely see us scaling new heights.

With such a long and rich history, there is no doubt that we have seen both good and bad times. I have tried to present the facts without any prejudice and hope that our alumni and friends of the FTE will enjoy this book as much as we have in researching and writing it.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages