Named after Vithalbhai Patel, freedom fighter and the First Indian president of the Central Legislative Assembly under British rule, its foundation was laid by the Iron Man of India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

There is no doubt that strong villages make a strong nation. This conviction led two strong minded people Shri Bhaikaka and Shri Bhikhakaka to visualize an educational township in Charutar so that education could serve as an able instrument of rural change. This dream was blessed by none other than the two great sons of India Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

What is today known as Vallabh Vidyanagar, was a wooded ravine where no one dared to live. Under a desolate mango tree, the two visionaries sketched out a blueprint of their vision.

In 1945, Shri Bhaikaka and Shri Bhikhakaka registered a Public Charitable Trust : The Charutar Vidya Mandal (CVM) and in the glorious tradition of Nalanda and Takshashila, they laid the foundation of a model township (on borrowed land, thanks to the generosity of the neighboring villages) which was inaugurated by India's first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.

In 1947, an Arts and Science College was the first college to come up in the township. Teachers, their spouses , students, citizens, everybody voluntarily laboured to bring this college up. So in 1947 with 600 students, it was inaugurated by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.