Looking back: MBM Engineering College was established at Jodhpur in 1951. It was the first college in Rajasthan for running a degree course in Civil Engineering. Overseer’s certificate course was introduced in the institution in 1955 for meeting the growing demand of subordinate personnel in development departments. Subsequently, two batches of short term overseer courses were also run by the college during that period for meeting the immediate requirements of supervisory personnel. Udaipur Polytechnic was the first government polytechnic established in Rajasthan in the year 1957 for the conduct of three year diploma courses in Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Mining Engineering. Since the physical facilities and staff were not available at Udaipur, the first batch of students of Udaipur Polytechnic was admitted at MBM Engineering College Jodhpur in 1957. With the construction of the polytechnic buildings at Udaipur and procurement of necessary equipment and furniture, Udaipur Polytechnic was in a position to function at Udaipur from July 1958. In the meantime, there was a proposal to establish a government polytechnic at Ajmer and to enable it to function freely at Ajmer from July 1958, the intake of the first batch of students at Ajmer was restricted to 60 for a diploma course in civil engineering. With the establishment of polytechnics at Udaipur and Ajmer the diploma classes running under MBM Engineering College were discontinued. Last batch of diploma students admitted under MBM Engineering College was in 1957. From 1958 onwards the students at Jodhpur were admitted to newly established Jodhpur Polytechnic, which functiond initially, in the premises of MBM Engineering College for three years, before shifting to its newly built campus in the year 1961.
White House: We were happy to land at the White House in the morning hours of 7 January 1958. White House was a lonely house built in hilly terrain, close to foothills of Aravalli range of mountains enveloping the city of Ajmer. White House had spacious lawns in addition to a lot of open space in front of the building and a very big courtyard in the rear. The built up accommodation was neat and clean and was substantial for meeting our physical needs. Dr DR Malhotra used to be mostly out from place to place, as he happened to be a sought after consultant of mining and metallurgy at that time. Mrs Malhotra, the owner of the house was the matriarch of the family with an excellent brood of seven sons and a daughter. Apart from two youngest sons, who were studying in Mayo College at Ajmer, all other children were very well settled and popped up, off and on at the white house to cheer up their mother. Mrs Malohotra was an affectionate lady, almost twice our age and she welcomed us at the white house, almost like her own family.
Incidentally, our father had visited Ajmer in the year 1933 during the fiftieth death anniversary celebrations of Swami Dayanand Saraswati and was quite excited about visiting some of the old places in the town.
During the British period, the Government High Schools enjoyed excellent physical facilities and academic standing in the country. Our visit to Government High School at Ajmer about the admission of our eldest son Mohan was extremely encouraging, as the Principal DM Jain stepped out of his room and greeted us. That was the middle of the session, but, he was very happy and helpful in admitting him to class VII on transfer from Allahabad. Next on our circuit was Sophia Girls School at Ajmer, which was the leading girls school of the town. Rashmi our second child was studying in a convent school at Allahabad, as such, the headmistress had no hesitation in taking her in, after a brief chat with her.
Establishing a new set up: Whenever a new institution, new industry, new project or for that matter, any new enterprise or task is taken in hand, all resources and attention are sucked in for the fulfillment of its immediate needs. The future and ultimate tasks become secondary. The world is replete with the stories of institutions, which started from scratch and ultimately turned into world renowned institutions. Ajmer Polytechnic was on its way for a modest beginning from scratch. The central location of Ajmer in Rajasthan, which was an excellent hub of educational institutions and the quiet and peaceful environment of the town, provided wings to the dreams of everybody about the future of the institution.
Masuda House at Ajmer was a magnificent structure. Rao Sahib of Masuda is said to have given a word to the Chief Minister of Rajasthan to make the building available to the government for the establishment of a Polytechnic at Ajmer or for any other project of the Government of Rajasthan. Masuda House was readily available and that provided a sense of assurance for smooth functioning of the polytechnic at Ajmer from July 1958. Masuda House stood on a piece of rock in a hilly terrain. Sub-divisional Officer of Ajmer had estimated that the acquisition of about twenty acres of additional land near Masuda House for the playgrounds and future development of the polytechnic was likely to cost about Rs 20 lacs. However, due to the rough and hilly country, a tinkering feeling was taking shape, giving rise to apprehensions, that, Masuda House may not be the place for ultimate growth and development of Ajmer Polytechnic.
Incidentally, a building belonging to Lodhas, with sufficient built up area and open land happened to be available on rent in a central location in the Civil Lines Area. It seemed that it was possible to run the polytechnic temporarily, for about a year, from that building smoothly. Consequently, a lease dead of one year was gone through, bringing a tremendous sense of relief.
Kshtriya Vidyapeeth: Mayo College was established at Ajmer in 1875 for providing educational facilities for the children of ruling princes and nobles of Rajputana. Subsequently, it was felt there was need to establish a similar institution to meet the educational needs of children of thikanedars and other rajputs standing on lower rungs of the hierarchy. Consequently, Kshtriya Vidyapeeth Society was formed and it acquired 125 acres of land on Ajmer Nasirabad road, sometimes during the thirties. The construction of the main building of Vidyapeeth was started in late thirties and the ground floor, covering about 10,000 sqft was built in glittering limestone. That was the time, when second world war broke out and the construction work was suspended. Since, then the unfinished building was lying there and the land was being used for agricultural purposes. Subsequently, a proposal had gone to the government for acquiring the whole complex for the establishment of a research centre for the agriculture department. Commissioner of Ajmer had given an indication, that the agriculture department was not very enthusiastic about locating their research centre there and as and when they decide to finalise some other location, Khastriya Vidyapeeth Complex could become available for the establishment of Ajmer Polytechnic.
Brief visit to Jodhpur: My first visit to Jodhpur after settling down at Ajmer was sometimes in the first week of February 1958. As usual, I boarded Delhi-Ahmedabad Express at night, which took me to Marwar Junction and I moved to Udaipur-Jodhpur Passenger at the dead of night. Luni Junction is a big railway junction between Pali and Jodhpur. At that time, Luni Junction used to be full of hawkers, peddling the sales of milk products, including rasgoolas and rasmalais. Their shouts in the early morning hours used to attract most of the sleepy passengers, who were always in a haste to grab a few cans of rasgoolas and rasmalai during the brief stop over at Luni. Rasgollas and Rasmalais used to sell at Re one and four annas per seer and used to be the cheapest and most sought after gift for the relations and friends at Jodhpur. People at Jodhpur accepted the cans of Rasgoolas and Rasmalais with open arms and they even undertook to distribute it themselves between all friends and relations.
During that period, Jodhpur was well known for courtesy and fraternal feelings for each other. Nobody had the need to look out for the dak bunglow, circuit house or a hotel. Everybody seemed keen to have an opportunity to serve as a host and most of them insisted on a visit to their house and to share a meal with them. Such stays and visits were extremely useful in development of fraternal relationships with the people.
Polytechnics in Rajasthan: Polytechnics in Rajasthan were controlled by Principal VG Garde of MBM Engineering College, who was ex-officio Director of Technical Education for the state of Rajasthan. Principal Garde had gradually built up his reputation of being a straight and no-nonsense person and normally, nobody approached him for any type of special consideration or favours. He was held in high esteem by the chief minister of Rajasthan, who used to reserve exclusive time for him, once every quarter, for smooth functioning of technical institutions of the state. All admissions to diploma courses in polytechnics were made by the principals of polytechnics , strictly in order of merit based on marks obtained by the candidates in English, Mathematics and Science in high school examination or an equivalent or higher examination. Circular for admissions, which included the application form and detailed information about basic qualifications and procedures for admission was issued by the Director of Technical Education, after formal approval by the state government.