About College
S. B. Garda College is one of the oldest educational institutions of the South Gujarat region. The College is affiliated to Veer Narmad South Gujarat University and is recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC), India under Section 2 (f) and 12 (b) of the UGC Act.
The institute was established in 1945 when a Parsi philanthropist Sorabji Burjorji Garda donated a sum of Rs. 2,00,000/- with an objective of imparting education to all students without any distinction of caste or creed or nationality save and except that preference therein shall be given to Parsis. Prof. A. K. Trivedi, the first principal of the institute proudly and fondly chose the motto of the institute:
˜MY STUDENTS™
˜Words written large in my heart. For them I have chosen the motto: EXCELSIOR. May they in the company of their Professors strive Higher and Higher!”
[ A. K. Trivedi, 1945]
The motto of the college became the status insignia of the institution. The institute progressed and flourished higher and higher afterwards.
The institute takes pride to be the first institution in the South Gujarat region to offer the widest range of subjects. The departments for various subjects- Gujarati, Sanskrit, Persian and Economics were established in the very first year of its inception i.e. 1945. In 1946 Science Faculty was added to that of Arts providing facility to students to opt for science courses. In 1947 the subjects of English and logic were introduced and there was an addition of Psychology and Hindi subjects in 1952. Later on History and Political Science were also introduced. In 1948 Burjorji Pestonji Baria donated a sum of Rs. 2,00,000/- and the college was renamed as S. B. Garda College Arts & B. P. Baria Science Institute. In 1965 the three sons of Shri Paragji Kuverji Patel donated a sum of Rs. 1,00,000/- for the purpose of commencing a commerce faculty. With the addition of commerce faculty, the institute was again renamed S. B. Garda College (Arts) & P. K. Patel College of Commerce, Navsari and B. P. Baria Science Institute was bifurcated and established as an independent institution. After two years Post Graduate classes were added in the Arts Faculty which offered great opportunity to the students to opt for various subjects at P.G. level. Later on when the University centralized P.G. centres, colleges discontinued P.G. Programmes. The students had to go to Surat to pursue P.G. programmes. But in 1985 again permission was given to colleges to start P.G. centres and P.G. in History subject commenced in S B Garda college. In 1987 M.A. in Gujarati started and in 1992 M. Com. with the subject of Accountancy was introduced.
Over the years the college has earned a name for its excellence in the fields of academics, cultural activities, sports, NSS, NCC and other Co-curricular and Extra-Curricular activities. The institute has gained a wide repute through its extension activities and community services. The Institute strives hard to ensure academic quality and integrity of its academic programmes and is committed to fulfil and satisfy the expectations of the students, staff and the other constituencies of the society by providing effective educational opportunities and ambient environment.
At present the college offers the widest range of options with seven core subjects- English, Gujarati, Hindi, Sanskrit, Economics, Psychology and History at undergraduate level with the combination of other elective, compulsory and inter- disciplinary subjects. At post graduate level college offers degree programmes in the subjects of Gujarati and History. In the commerce faculty the college offers commerce degrees at U.G. and P.G. level.
Today in 2021, the college has completed 75 years of its existence. During the last 75 years, the college has contributed to the society by producing eminent personalities belonging to various fields like the college principals, professors, lecturers, school teachers, industrialists, writers, editors, entrepreneurs, journalists M.L.A.s, M.P.s and many more other professionals who are serving the society by bringing glory to their Alma Mater
Today S. B. Garda ( Arts) & P. K. Patel College of Commerce, Navsari is one of the leading institutes in the South Gujarat Region and is relentlessly contributing to the pursuit and dissemination of knowledge, to the nourishment and cultivation of values and to the upliftment and advancement of the society it serves.
˜May it grow from strength to strength.”
˜Excelsior!”