Empowering Women through Education Since 1935
Banasthali Vidyapith is a fully residential women's higher education institute which offers an integrated system extending from the primary to the Ph.D. level.
It was on October 6, 1935 that Smt. Ratan Shastri and Pandit Hiralal Shastri founded Banasthali to fill up the vacuum caused by the sudden death of their highly talented and promising daughter Shantabai. They had high expectations that she would work for women's cause when she would grow up. But destiny ordained otherwise.
Thus, Banasthali owes its existence neither to the zeal of an educationist, nor to that of a social reformer. It is also not the creation of a Philanthropist's purse. It has arisen like the fabled phoenix from the ashes of a blossoming flower Shantabai.
Banasthali is one of the five higher education institutes in India meant exclusively for Women. Over these seventy-five years, Banasthali has developed into a National Centre for women's education. Banasthali's educational programme aims at an all-round development of the student's personality.
To achieve its objective of 'synthesis of spiritual values and scientific achievements of the East and the West', it has evolved a Five-fold Educational Programme (Panchmukhi Shiksha) comprising the following aspects:
This approach helps students develop an integrated and balanced personality.
The rural ambience of Banasthali Vidyapith is very conducive for promoting the ideology of simple living, and for imbibing and internalizing the values of self-reliance and tolerance. The emphasis on Indian heritage creates an environment that fosters women’s empowerment and leadership development.
Banasthali has made full use of the autonomy provided under the deemed university status. It offers courses across a wide spectrum — from traditional subjects to emerging disciplines, including doctoral-level research.
It has been accredited by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) with an 'A++' grade and a CGPA of 3.63/4.00.
The university is also a recipient of the SANTBAL Award (2000) for outstanding service in the field of all-round women's education.