Professor Shibban Lal Saxena, a great personality popularly known as ‘Gandhi of Purvanchal’ was founding father of this center of higher education ‘Jawahar Lal Nehru Smarak P.G. College, Mahrajganj’ (U.P.). He was a freedom fighter, member of Constituent Assembly and Indian lawmaker (Member of Parliament). He was born on 13 July 1906 at Agra. He was son of Chhote Lal Saxena and Bitti Rani.
He got his initial education from Government High School and Christ Church Inter college in Kanpur. He did his graduation (B.A.) from University of Allahabad as Gold Medalist in 1927. He obtained his M.A. degree in Mathematics from Allahabad University in 1929. He also completed his degree of M.A.(Philosophy) from Agra University in 1931.
He was appointed as professor of Mathematics and Philosophy at St. Andrew’s College in Gorakhpur in 1930.
He had actively participated in freedom struggle and on many occasions, he was jailed for his strong protest against the Britishers. He was a close associate of our first prime minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.
In latter part of his life, he chooses this educationally and socially backward terai region of Mahrajganj as his Karmbhhomi (Place of action) and he devoted his whole life for upliftment of people of Maharajganj region.
He firmly believed in power of education as most powerful tool for changing fate and life of people. So, he established many educational institutions from primary to higher education to cater need of the people and which not only enlightened generations of this whole region but also students from neighboring country of Nepal. He established this higher educational institution of Jawahar Lal Nehru Smarak P.G. College whose foundation was laid down on 13.03.1965 by erstwhile Prime Minister of India Lal Bahadur Shastri in Maharajagnj. Since then, this institute has been a guiding light in education in this area.
He devoted his whole life for cause and welfare of people of his parliamentary constituency Mahrajganj. He kept his incessant fight for basic amenities of this region like railway line, Telephone service etc. within and outside the parliament. He was true dynamic Gandhian socialist leader and he was known as one of the oldest Labor and Trade Union Leader of the country and pioneering in trade union movement in Sugar Industry which was the backbone of economy of the region.
He left for heavenly abode on Oct 20, 1986 after prolonged illness. His values and principals are still living as a Guiding Light for our institution.