About GRI

Vision & Mission

PROFILE

      Gandhigram Rural Institute (GRI), founded by two dedicated disciples and contemporaries of Mahatma Gandhi, Dr.G.Ramachandran and Dr.T.S.Soundaram Ramachandran, has as its foundation Mahatma Gandhi’s revolutionary philosophy of Nai Talim, which effectively bridges the cognitive and practical dimensions, and focuses on the holistic development of learners, with an emphasis on skill development through value-based education, rooted in indigenous cultures and traditions. Since its establishment in 1956, GRI has been unstintingly contributing to higher education and has successfully pioneered rural higher education.

 

   Along with Gandhiji’s Nai Talim, the ideals envisioned by Dr. Radhakrishnan Education Commission (1948-49), and in in National Council for Rural Higher Education headed by Dr. K. Shrimali, the then Deputy Minister, Ministry of Education, and three other proven world models listed below contributed to the establishment of GRI in 1956, namely

   1. Folks Hoschkole system of Denmark by N.F. S. Gruntvig (1844)

   2. Land-grant University system of USA (1862); and

   3. Sriniketan Experiment of Shantiniketan by Tagore (1922)

      The Institute which is administered by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India and fully funded through UGC, New Delhi has developed academic programs in rural development, rural economics and extension education, rural oriented sciences, co-operation, development administration, rural sociology, English, Tamil and Indian languages. The institute runs B.Tech. in civil engineering with focus on habitat development and M.Tech. in renewable energy. The institute also offers B.Sc Agriculture program.

      Gandhigram Rural Institute is quite active on both campus and rural areas in the vicinity, benefitting and enriching one another. Besides, its contribution to teaching, from diploma, degree and all the way to post-doctorate levels, the Institute applies the learnings from both scientific and social research to solve contemporary rural problems. The curriculum is a combination of theoretical, practical and extension experiments. The Institute has become home to many pioneering models of rural development programmes. The students and scholars who emerge from its portals tend to meet the personnel needs of rural development programmes under various governmental and non-governmental organizations.

      The three dimensional approach of education namely teaching, research and extension has become a highly celebrated model, earning global and nationwide appreciation. Started in a small way the Institute has evolved into a reasonably large and expansive educational complex comprising of 8 schools, 12 departments and 16 Centres offering a whopping 129 academic programs, ranging from certificate courses, to Graduate programmes to Doctoral and post-Doctoral Programmes. At present the Institute has 3837 students, including Ph.D. Scholars, and 178 teaching and 243 non-teaching staff.

      The curricular model developed at GRI organically integrating teaching, research and extension has earned the Institute, the status of Deemed University in 1976 by UGC, the five-star status by NAAC in 2002, ‘A’ Grade during the re-accreditation in 2010 by NAAC and ‘A’ Grade in its third cycle of reaccreditation in the year 2016.

      Thus the Institute has been taking efforts to design its academic programs in tune with the demands of the society and industry by providing a learner-centric, transparent teaching and evaluation methods. Through the action-oriented research and scientific research, the Institute contributes substantially to the research domains and concentrates on solving the rural issues at micro levels. The participatory and decentralized governance of Gandhigram Rural Institute strives for achieving global standard of excellence in all the dimensions of education without compromising on its rural character and Gandhian values.

      

Genesis of GRI

      Gandhigram had its genesis on 7th October, 1947 and it progressed and expanded remarkably in the areas of rural community development under the dynamic leadership of its founders Dr.G.Ramachandran and Dr.T.S.Soundaram Ramachandran, dedicated desiples of Gandhiji. Drawing huge inspirations from work and ideas of Mahatma Gandhi, they worked with enormous amount of zeal and commitment for the betterment of the rural people in the vicinity and it was their unstinting dedication and unwavering faith in Gandhian ideals that has made Gandhigram what it is today.

      The Gandhigram Rural Institute of Higher Education was started in 1956 to bring higher education closer to the villagers. The significant educational experiment, broadly conforming to the recommendations of the Dr.R.Radhakrishnan Commission relating to rural universities and rural colleges, was inaugurated by Dr.R.Rajendra Prasad, the then President of India on August 1956. The first academic block of Gandhigram Rural Institute was opened by the former Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru on December, 1957. Right from its inception, The Institute is fully funded by Government of India (the then Ministry of Education and now the Human Resource Development).

Salient Features.

  • Dr.G.Ramachandran and Dr.T.S.Soundaram Ramachandran are the founders of Gandhigram Rural Institute (GRI). They were the devoted disciples of Mahatma Gandhi and involved actively in freedom movement. Their marriage was solemnized in Sabarmathi Ashram by Gandhiji in the year 1940.

  • Under the advice of Gandhiji, the couple chose a place near Chinnalapatti village, Dindigul district (45 km from Madurai) for establishing the institution for education, health and sanitation, village industries, etc.

  • The place fondly named ‘Gandhigram’ was inaugurated by the Father of our Nation Mahatma Gandhi on 7th October 1947 with a powerful message “Success Attends where Truth Reigns”. Since then, Gandhigram has been a hub of community development.

  • Gandhigram village received national attention for an important reason. On February 2, 1946 local people had a dharshan of Gandhiji while he was traveling from Madurai to Palani by train. He spoke to the eagerly waiting people for few minutes.

  • The Institute is situated on a serene and verdant campus environment spreading over about 207 acres of land, and most of these lands were donated by the villagers voluntarily with the hope that their children will get education and employment.

  • In the year 1956, eleven rural institutes were established by the Ministry of Education, Government of India and GRI was one among them. The Central Government was providing funds to the institute from the year 1956. While most of the rural institutes were closed due to various reasons, the Gandhigram Rural Institute remains alive and vibrant, rendering yeoman service to students and village communities.

  • Of 11 rural institutes created in India, Gandhigram Rural Institute is the only surviving institute both because of the constant support of Central Government and because of the Institute’s vibrant ability to reinvent itself to face challenges of changing-times . This has enabled the Institute to grow and achieve laudable results. The Institute has been fostering innovations in extension and rural development activities and as a result has been credited with praiseworthy best practices.

  • The most important educational experiment of Gandhigram is the system of education envisaged by Gandhiji in the form of ‘Nai Talim’ which is founded on the ideal providing basic education to the rural people is a basic requirement for rural development.

  • The Institute strongly believes in the words of Mahatma Gandhi – “The end of all education should be service and if a student gets an opportunity to render service while he/she is studying, he/she should consider it as a rare opportunity and treat it not as a suspension of his/her education but rather its complement”.

  • The Institute has grown by leaps and bounds and it was conferred the status of Deemed to be University in 1976 by the then Ministry of Social Welfare and Education (now MHRD). The Institute was registered under Societies Registration Act of 1860.

  • Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru, Smt. Indira Gandhi, Shri C.Subramaniam, Shri K.Kamarajar former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Honourable Presidents of India Shri Venkatraman, Shri Abdul Kalam, among others, Honourable Vice-Presidents of India Shri Hamid Ansari, many noted freedom fighters, national leaders and international figures including Khan Afar Khan, Martin Luther King Jr., Morarji Desai have visited the Institute at different points of time. 

  • The Chancellor and Vice-Chancellors are appointed by Government of India. Vice Presidents of India were the Chancellors of the University till 2012. The Government appointed Ms.Renana Jhabvala, Chairperson of SEWA Bharat (Self Employed Women’s Association) as Chancellor for a term of 5 years from 30th March 2012 to 29th March 2017. Dr. KM. Annamalai, a renowned Physiotherapist and Social Activist has been appointed as Chancellor by the Government for a period of 5 years from 20th April 2017.

  • The present incumbent Vice-Chancellor, Dr.S.Natarajan, formerly working as Director (Soil and Crop Management Studies), Tamil Nadu Agricultural University has joined the Institute on 23.05.2014 after the approval of Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC) headed by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India.

  • The Institute has been consistently getting ‘A’ Grade by NAAC right from the very first cycle (2005) of accreditation to the current third cycle (starting 2016). The MHRD also placed the Institute under A-Category University on the basis of the recommendation of Tandon Committee.

Best Practices

The Institute is deeply aware of its responsibility to foster and sustain those aspects of Indian cultural heritage that stood the test of times and continue to have relevance for contemporary times. Thus, in true Gandhian spirit, the institute is committed to promoting communal harmony and humane governance and inclusive rural development. It aims at striking a balance between the old values of simple and spiritual life that are worth retaining and the new ones tempered with modernity, rationality and science. Fortified with these values, the Institute aspires to groom and prepare the student community for harnessing the promising opportunities of and for facing newer challenges of the 21st century.

The activities detailed in this section exemplify the spirit mentioned above. These activities are unique to GRI and have the potential to be regarded as “Best Practices” of GRI.

Daily Prayer

All working days of Institute (except during exam days) begin with the congregation of students and staff members at Bell Maidan,to join morning prayer at 9.15 a.m. Such congregation has a refreshing and renewing effect on the minds and hearts of those gathered under the canopy of the vast peepal tree. The Prayer begins with a spiritual song meant for each day of the week, followed by a reading of an evocative ‘thought for the day’. Significantly, the prayer songs and recital of inspirational quotes from eminent thinkers are performed by students of different Departments that are designated, on a rolling basis, to organize the Daily Prayer for one week every semester. This develops artistic, public speaking and organizational skills in the students. This immensely unique activity happens in a highly decentralized manner with the organizing Departments enjoying absolute autonomy in deciding the content and identifying the student performers.

The occasion of the prayer is also used for making important announcements, felicitating academic/sports achievers and introducing renowned guests/visitors who have visited the Institute and chosen to participate in the morning prayer. The Daily Prayer, by bringing students and staff together, personalizes the relationship between students and staff as well as among students of different programmes, even, as it reaffirms a sense of belonging to GRI in them.

Best Practices

Inter-Religious Prayer

Inter-Religious Prayer and Inter-Faith Dialogue are the cherished ideas of Gandhiji to promote communal harmony and peaceful co-existence. Deeply inspired by this ideal, Gandhigram Rural Institute encourages the assembly of all its staff and students on all working Fridays at 4.00 pm, in the hallowed Multipurpose Auditorium of GRI for Inter-Religious Prayer. Organized and managed entirely by the students of the Institute, this solemn activity involves singing devotional songs of all major faiths, alternated by recital of selected verses from Bhagavat Gita, Holy Quran and Holy Bible. Occasionally, religious leaders professing any one of the major faiths are invited to deliver talks and lectures in an effort to promote inter-faith understanding. What had begun as a prayer programme, has, over a period of time, evolved into a GRI community get-together, to share and brief the GRI activities to one another. Hence, latter half of the programme is devoted to informing the significant happenings and notable achievements of the different Departments of the Institute in the form of a news compilation called ‘GRI Valam’ (GRI Roundup).

Best Practices

Daily Flag Hoisting

None has extolled the power of the Flag to unify diverse population of India, more powerfully than Mahatma Gandhi. Similarly, none had spent more time and written more in designing the Flag, than Gandhiji during heydays of Freedom Movement of India. Our National Flag today is deeply influenced by the inputs that Gandhiji had meticulously provided, during the pre-independent Days.

Hence, it is small wonder that Gandhigram Rural Institute, having been founded on the principles of Gandhiji, pays rich tribute to our National Flag by ceremonially and solemnly hoisting it at 8.00 AM every day at the historic Bell Maidan, thereby aspiring to instill patriotic sprit in all the stakeholders of the Institute, and as a mark of respect for all the freedom fighters, who fought for us to enjoy the right to hoist and salute, our own National Flag.

Indeed, the morning ceremonial activities of the Institute starts with solemn hoisting of the National Flag of our great Nation, in strict accordance with the procedures spelled out by the Government of India, followed by Morning Prayer at 9.20 AM, before commencement of regular academic activities at 9.30 AM.

Best Practices

Shramdhan

The Gandhian concept of Nail Talim (Basic education) is built on the foundational idea that knowledge and work (understood as physical labour) are organically linked and derive their essence from one another. Shramdhan (Serving by labouring) is a Gandhian way of celebrating physical labour. Right from its inception Gandhigram Rural Institute has accorded Shramdhan a pride of place in its corporate life as well as in its curriculum. Every week, an hour’s time of class work is set aside for Shramdhan activities in the time-table of all Diploma, UG, and PG programmes. During this hour, all students, scholars and staff enthusiastically and collectively engage themselves in cleaning of class rooms, offices, laboratories as well as the surrounding areas of the Departments. Besides undertaking cleaning work, tree planting, gardening and landscaping works are also taken up by them on days of national and international importance such as World Environment Day, World Earth Day, and the like. Shramdhan activities invariably generate deep respect for physical work in the minds of students and staff, in a society that tends to unjustly place higher value in mental work. In recent years the central Government's 'Swachh Bharath Mission' has given a new flip to the Shramdhan activities in GRI.

Gurukula System


Gurukula (Mentoring) system is as old as Gandhigram Rural Institute and is part of GRI ever since its inception in 1956. It is an age old system under the traditional educational world and it was operated in the original rural institute at Gandhigram. Further, the system has been continuing even after the declaration of the university status in the year 1976. All the Teachers and students, known as Gurus and Shishyas were soaked under the Gurukula System. Every Guru is made responsible for building and moulding the character of individual student with a view to uproot one of the social sins, “education without character” as identified by Mahatma Gandhi. However, the total personality of the students was shaped by Gurus under the educational system evolved by the founders of Gandhigram Dr.T.S.Soundaram and Dr.G.Ramachandran - the founder Vice-chancellor of Gandhigram Rural Institute. It is envisaged that all-round development of the student in the Institute can take place through the Gurukula system. Such a system will no doubt shape the personality of the future generations. The Gandhigram Rural Institute – Deemed University has been trying to follow the old system with some modifications based on its experiments and experiences with the above system.

Each year, the students admitted under the graduate, Post-Graduate and M.Phil programmes are allotted Gurus. The number of shisyas allotted to each teacher is arrived at by dividing the total number of students in a class by the number of Gurus (Faculty Members) available in the concerned Department. The allotment is done fairly thorough a lot system to avoid arbitrary selections of shisyas. They meet the Gurus at the designated time (decided by each department and incorporated into the weekly timetable) each week to discuss their progress in studies, difficulties faced and other personal, interpersonal and career issues. These gurus also serve as their course advisor, career counsellor and as well-wisher.

Objectives

  • To build a dynamic team for total development of each student (Shisya) to face academic and personal challenges
  • To cover the educational and the supportive fraternity within the campus
  • To form a powerful partnership for comprehensive character education and moral ideal of students.
  • To maintain body discipline, mind discipline as well as work discipline
Vision and Mission

  • Education of the whole person - students
  • Realizing full potential and the individual capacity
  • Inculcating moral reasoning through a moral code thus shaping moral identity
  • Drawing out the best from body, mind and soul.
Strategy

  • As GRI is wedded to extension work, every group under the Gurukula system undertake and experiment with the village work.
  • Small is beautiful as it is said. Every Guru in GRI has a small group of Shisyas, 5-10 in the given academic year. No teacher should be left without students and village based youth group.
  • Gurukula system is linked with Extension work. Every Guru can organize the extension programme in tune with the objectives of the institute.
  • A periodical review meetings of Gurus are organized.
Constitution

  • As GRI is wedded to extension work, every group under the Gurukula system undertake and experiment with the village work.
  • Gurukula is a constitutional unit of the university system and all the Gurus are vested with some powers and responsibilities, in particular, each and every activity of the individual student should be revolved around a Guru - like a honey bee system.
  • All academic affairs, curricular and co-curricular activities of every student have the sanction of the Guru for the growth of the system.
  • As far as possible, Gurukula has a mixed system of both social science and physical sciences with a view to have cross fertilization of ideas and inter - intra faculty and departmental relationship and to remove fear psychosis of other department students as practiced in the original rural institute.
  • Every Guru has the freedom to design any programmes for a group his / her own Shishyas - students and to execute it independently including undertaking a picnic and other programmes of academic nature and curricular as well as co-curricular activities.
  • All the representations including official correspondence, application for examination like an appeal form and grievance petition etc. of the students should be routed through the Guru.
  • All the recommendations of the Guru must be considered in the right spirit depending upon the nature of the case. If at all there is any negative recommendation, the application of the student not considered for further action.
  • The Guru is consulted before constituting the enquiry committee pertaining to the individual student.
  • While considering the application of each student under “earn while you learn scheme, scholarship, fellowship and other benefits, the recommendations of the Guru is treated as vital without which no sanction is accorded”.
  • All the Gurus irrespective of the position/rank have a deep faith in the Gandhian Ideology and he / she contributes his / her might for raising the Gandhian image of the University.
  • All the teachers regularly wear Khadi.
  • The Guru concerned is authorized to convene the parents meetings of all those students under his / her supervision.
  • Every Guru of the university is linked to the office of the Dean Students Welfare.
Activities

  • A ‘5 – Point’ programme is undertaken by the individual Guru for the overall development of the students.
  • Gurukula system follows the dictum "prevention is better than cure”
  • Gurukula tries to impart the Life skills.
  • More field based counseling services are conducted making sure that they are student - centric activities.
  • Skill based training programme is offered in the evening hours and holidays.
  • Guru has to impart communication skills
  • Inter-religious dialogue are conducted for forgiveness, reconciliation and peace.
  • The family visits to the parents of the students may be planned by the Gurus as part of the annual cycle.
  • Yoga, meditation and individual counseling are encouraged.
  • As part of Gurukula activities, services to old age people are being undertaken.
Best Practices

Shanti Sena

      Shanthi Sena, (Peace Corps) in GRI was founded in 1958, 18 years before becoming a Deemed University. Since, GRI has always been a testing ground for many Gandhian experiments, the founding father of GRI, Dr G. Ramachandran took upon himself the task of establishing within this institution of higher education a nonkilling alternative to military training—a Shanti Sena. Even when GRI, upon becoming a Deemed University, was presented with the choice to adopt National Cadet Corps (NCC), it chose to continue with Shanthi Sena instead. By doing it, GRI became the only educational institution in the whole of globe to have adopted this model.

      Combining spiritual, physical, intellectual, and organizational training, the Shanti Sena prepared students for conflict resolution, security functions, disaster relief, and cooperative community service in response to community needs. The approach is always to work together with villagers to improve such things as childcare, sanitation, housing, and preservation of folk arts traditions. The Shanti Sena in GRI until recently assumed responsibility for campus security. No armed police were permitted on GRI campus or if permitted they used to play second fiddle to Shanthi Sena, even during visits by Indian prime ministers Pundit Nehru, Mrs. Indira Gandhi, or Presidents Shri R. Ventkatraman, Shri Abdul Kalaam and other dignitaries. Besides providing security, when such dignitaries and prominent leaders visit the GRI campus, Shanthi Sena remains at the forefront in according them floral tributes and grand welcome.

      The six-decade long experience of Shanthi Sena in GRI includes taking initiatives in peace building, promoting democracy and governance by conducting peace dialogues, inter-religious dialogues, youth exchange programmes, youth camps, leadership training programmes, sports for peace programmes and prohibition (abolition of arrack) in the neighbouring villages. They are actively involved in emergency relief, peace education, environmental conservation and providing community based health facilities in the rural areas nearby.

      Every year, many students of the Institute volunteer to become part of Shanthi Sena and carry rich experiences and fond memories with them when passing out from GRI.

Best Practices

Yoga

Best Practices

Gandhian Principles and Ideologies

       Students of this Institute study Gandhian life and experiments. Gandhian Ideologies, Gandhian Economics and Gandhian constructive programmes are incorporated in the curriculum. This enables them to develop tolerance and other ethical and moral values.

      Symposium on Communal Harmony for National Integration 07.12.2017


Best Practices

Village Placement Programme

       All the students of the Institute are placed in the neighboring villages for a period of seven days in each academic year. During their stay, the students understand rural environment, undertake household surveys, and prepare reports for development activities. They conduct medical and health care and literacy campaigns. The students undertake Shramdhan activities every day during their stay in the villages.

Best Practices

Promotion of Khadi

       Students and staff wear khadi dress on Fridays in a week. Beside, Khadi shawls are used to honour guests in the university functions. Traditionally, the graduates and Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor and members of academic bodies wear khadi shawls and caps in the annual convocation event.

Former Vice-Chancellors



1 Dr. P.B. GAJENDRAGADKAR
09.12.1976 to 08.12.1979

2 Dr. T.S. SOUNDRAM
03.01.1980 to 21.10.1984

3 Shri.R. VENKATRAMAN
13.04.1985 to 25.07.1987

4 Dr. SANKAR DAYAL SHARMA
18.09.1987 to 29.09.1992

5 Dr. K.R. NARAYANAN
30.09.1992 to 29.09.1998

6 Shri. KRISHAN KANT
30.09.1998 to 27.07.2002

8 Shri. BHAIRON SINGH SHEKAWAT
07.10.2002 to 21.09.2007

9 Shri. MOHAMMED HAMID ANSARI
23.10.2007 to 10.08.2011

7 Ms. RENANA JHABVALA
30.03.2012 to 29.03.2017


Former Vice-Chancellors



1 Dr.G. Ramachandran
09.12.1976 to 08.12.1979

2 Dr.M. Aram
26.05.1980 to 25.08.1986

3 Shri. Devendra Kumar
06.09.1986 to 05.09.1989

4 Shri.D.K. Oza
29.01.1990 to 27.07.1993

5 Dr.T.R. Natesan
23.12.1993 to 20.06.1997

6 Dr.N. Markandan
09.07.1997 to 08.07.2000

8 Dr.G. Pankajam
05.04.2001 to 01.10.2004

9 Dr.T. Karunakaran
24.12.2004 to 16.07.2007

7 Dr.Sm. Ramasamy
01.04.2009 to 09.09.2013


* During all the intervening periods between demitting of the office by the outgoing Vice Chancellors and assuming of office by the new Vice Chancellors, the administration of the Institute was vested with The Interim Administration Committee (IAC).

Gandhigram is nestled in the valley formed between the imposing Sirumalai Hills on its east and breath-taking Kodai Hills on its West. It is located about 10 kilometers South of Dindigul town and 55 kilometers north of the temple city of Madurai. Chinnalapatti village famous for handloom sarees is 2km away.

Because of its proximity to the Sirumalai Range of Hills, GRI Campus too shares many of the bio-geo characteristics of the former. Thanks to Sirumalai Hills, pleasant weather and evening cool breeze persist all around the year. The greenery of the mountain in mirrored in the thick vegetation on campus. The rocky subterranean formation of the campus is the extension of the Sirumalai mountain, on whose foothills GRI is sited. On the biological front, the rich bio-diversity of the Sirumalai Range is reflected on GRI campus in the form of diverse breeds and variegated species of flora and fauna. GRI is home to an astonishing number of varieties of trees, plants, butterflies, birds and insects. The campus receives copious rains during the September-November period, thanks largely to the north-east monsoon. It is also a marginal beneficiary of South-West monsoon during the June-August period. These rains have blessed the GRI Campus with reasonable density of vegetation, as evidenced by that fact that all the arterial roads of the campus are lined with big trees on both sides and that the entire campus is dotted with trees, shrubs and bushes.

The campus of GRI also has many historic sites and monuments of its own.

As one enters the GRI campus, they will be greeted with a small foundation stone standing testimony to the historic event of Mahatma Gandhiji's famous halt.When the villagers in the nearby areas stopped a train,upon learning that Mahatma Gandhi was travelling in it, Gandhiji yielded to the gentle but forceful love of the people and came out of the train to greet the gathering. People were very pleased to have had a sight of Gandhiji and dispersed quietly thereafter. As history would have it, this place was later suggested by Gandhiji, when two of his disciples, S.Soundaram and G. Ramachandran (the founding members of Gandhigram) wanted to go south and serve the people. Thus germinated Gandhigram!

Upon entering the campus there is a vast peepal tree under which is located the bell tower. This tower marks the inaugural moments of GRI, when the then Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru swung the rope connecting the tongue of the bell to declare 'open' GRI.

Situated immediately after the bell tower (on the southern side) is another notable building called the Constructive Programme Museum (click here to learn more about the Museum). Students from the schools near and far from GRI visit this Museum regularly.

On turning the first left, upon entering the campus one would reach a small hut like structure where Nehruji stayed whenever he visited GRI. The same building now houses the IQAC of GRI.

On the extreme west of the campus is the big pond, serving as the water recharging source of the campus. This was dug as part of the national level NSS Camp in the late 1970s during which volunteers who had gathered from the length and breath of the country rallied around the leadership of renowned Gandhian DrSubbanna and dedicated their labour resulting in the creation of this pond.

Just next to the pond and close to the Department of Cooperation is the massive Banyan tree fondly called Buddha Park. Many open door classes and training session happen here. The sight of student of post-graduate programmes attending classes under benign shadow of this tree is a standing testimony to the simplicity and practicality that GRI cherishes.

Besides these, Gandhigram has recently developed an Energy Park, that houses all kinds of renewable energy generators, such as Wind Mills, Solar Panels etc. This is another sought after place for the school students in the District of Dindigul.

Just few meters past The Energy Park, is the in-house RO (Reverse Osmosis) Unit that processes drinking water. This unit supplies the Drinking water for all the departments, hostels and staff quarters, thereby ensuring that there is germ-free safe drinking water for all on campus.

Connectivity

Gandhigram Rural Institute is well connected by road and trains. Air connectivity however is provided by the International Airport located in Madurai city, at a distance of 50kms. Located on the Madurai-Dindigul four-lane National Highway, GRI is away from the nearest town, Dindigul (located on the south to the campus) by 10km and from the nearest city Madurai (located north to the campus) by 40kms. Resultantly, road connectivity is at it best, as commuting by bus, taxi and own car to reach GRI is the easiest. GRI is well connected by train with most of the south bound trains halting at Dindigul Junction or at Ambaturai Railway station located some 2KMs away. Almost all the passenger trains and Pandian Superfast Express have a scheduled halt at Ambatturai Station, whereas for all other Express Trains, Dindigul is the alighting point, to reach Gandhigram.

On Campus Accommodation

GRI has on-campus accommodation in the form of Guest House( Click here to learn more about the Guest House). Different types of rooms namely, Suite, Deluxe AC and Ordinary AC/non AC rooms are available in the Guest House.For those who prefer off-campus accommodation, there is a wide range of Hotels (from 3 Star to Budget Hotels) to choose from in the nearby town of Dindigul.

Location