Samaldas Arts College or Samaldas College is a college in Bhavnagar, Gujarat, India. It was founded in 1885 by Takhtsinhji, the Maharaja of Bhavnagar State in memory of his Diwan (minister) Samaldas Paramananddas Mehta. It is one of the oldest colleges in western India. It is affiliated to Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University.
History
Samaldas College was established by Takhtsinhji, the Maharaja of Bhavnagar State in memory of his Diwan Samaldas Paramananddas Mehta. The college was affiliated to University of Bombay and the classes were opened in January 1885 in Majiraj Girls High School building.
The foundation stone of the building opposite Peel Garden was laid on 25 November 1884 by James Furgusson, Governor of Bombay. The building was opened on 17 December 1886 by Lord Reay, Governor Bombay. The building was occupied in 1893. The building was constructed by R. Proctor Sims, the Public Works Councillor. The building is now used as the Sheth J. P. Ayurveda College.
In 1932, Krishnakumarsinhji, Maharaja of Bhavnagar, built a new building for the college on Vaghawadi Road. The building is used as the P. P. Institute of Science since June 1963.
On 1 November 1955, Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, laid the foundation of the present building of the college. The college is now affiliated to Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University.
Principals
The principal were as follows: R. H. Gunion (1885―1890) J. N. Unwalla (1890―1905) K. J. Sanjana (1905―1906) B. A. Enti (1906) K. J. Sanjana (1907―1923) T. K. Shahani (1923―1948) J. B. Sendil (1952―62) B. C. Desai (1962―66) S. M. Shah (1967―70) A. S. Prabhudesai (1975―77) A. A. Shaikh (1994―)