Our Legacy
Symbiosis: A saga of excellence
Symbiosis Motto: "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" means "World is one Family"
Symbiosis is a family of academic institutions which include University, Colleges, Centres, and Schools which have been imparting quality education for more than 50 years. It is host to 40,000 plus Indian and International students on campus.
These campuses epitomize the Symbiosis vision, 'Promoting International Understanding through Quality Education', and are a beehive of international students from all across the globe, being privy to Indian culture and hospitality.
Many of these campuses are fully residential and have recreational facilities which include include swimming pools, amphitheaters & Health Care centres.
Years
Indian and International students on campus
Heritage
Symbiosis 1971
Passion for Excellence
While a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, the decision to take that step is often fraught with deliberation and uncertainty. The Symbiosis journey however began with a surge of enthusiasm spurred on by an incident that, in itself, makes a poignant tale.
It is an inspiring tale and in the words of the founder of Symbiosis, Prof. Dr. S.B. Mujumdar, it says:
It was afternoon on a hot day. I was standing near a window of my house overlooking the first hostel block, of which I was a rector. A strange thing happened. A girl walked up to the window of the boy's hostel room, quickly handed over something and disappeared. My curiosity was aroused and I kept watching the girl walking up to the window day after day and suspected, like any other rector would, that an affair was afoot.
So one day, I made up my mind and walked up to the door and knocked. When the door opened, I saw a Mauritian student lying in bed. His face was pale and his eyes seemed to have sunken low.
I was puzzled !!
When I turned to the boy for an explanation, he said, "Sir, I have an attack of jaundice and I'm feeling extremely weak. I cannot stand up, nor walk a few steps. A girl from my country brings me food. However, since ladies are not allowed to enter the boy's hostel, she hands over the lunch box through the window.
"I was stunned, after all, it wasn't the type of 'affair' I had expected. I was very much pained and decided something had to be done about this. That was the instance! A golden moment! "Symbiosis was born".
Symbiosis is a term in life science, meaning 'living together of two different organisms for the benefit of each other. Prof. Dr. S.B. Mujumdar, himself a professor of botany, thought this name apt for the institution.
Thus the institution was founded to alleviate the problems faced by foreign students coming to India. At the time, these problems included- accommodation, meals, medical care, guidance, coaching, information about the city etc.
85 +
Different countries
Symbiosis has come a long way since then.
Students are offered the best learning resources, industry, exposure, a strong International Students' Alumni network, a global recognition and above all, a truly enriching India experience.
Values
Inspired by the ideals of 'Vishwa Bharati' of Gurudev Tagore and 'Antar Bharati' of Sane Guruji and with a deep desire to help foreign students, an idea of 'Symbiosis' was conceived by Dr. S. B. Mujumdar in year 1971.
The motto of Symbiosis is 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam'. Indeed, the motto is aptly justified in Symbiosis' functioning pattern as it proves to be a ground that nurtures and cares for all students immaterial of their backgrounds.
Value in the Name
The basic value thread at Symbiosis is that of caring and nurturing.
The thread expands into a finely woven symbiotic system where thousands benefit. The name Symbiosis was coined with a special meaning – that of allowing various international cultures to culminate at a point and grow together. The idea was to promote a healthy and nurturing atmosphere for all students and the term 'Symbiosis' perfectly suited as it stands for co habitat of biological systems.
Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam –
THE WORLD IS ONE FAMILY
In ancient Hindu and Vedic philosophy, the world was construed as a huge family. The Vedic civilization did not regard the geographical boundaries as a division of the world. The thought that the entire earth is united in essence and a huge family imprinted on the Vedic lifestyle.
The Sanskrit phrase, 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' (the world is one family) signifies this thought. Inspired by this philosophy, Dr. Mujumdar put his first steps forward as he created a blueprint for Symbiosis in 1971. He truly believed that the various foreign students studying at his institution were all part of a huge family.
Through his experience at the Fergusson College, he pondered on the difficulties faced by foreign students. Thus in 1971 he established "Symbiosis", which means 'living together of two different organisms for mutual benefit'. Therefore, the main dictum at Symbiosis is "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam".
