Doctor Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya, formerly University of Saugar, was established on 18th July 1946 by Dr. Harisingh Gour by his lifetime saving. This 18th University of India and the oldest and the biggest University of Madhya Pradesh has perhaps the singular distinction of being founded by the munificence of a single person's hard earned money of about two crore of rupees. Sir Hari Singh Gour (Nov. 26.1870 – Dec. 25. 1949).

The University has a centre of Indira Gandhi Open University, Audiovisual Research Centre, Central Instrumentation Laboratory, Shrimant B.S. Jain Centre for Research and Education in Psychology and Population Research Centre created by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt of India . Muktibodh Peetha in the Department of Hindi has been created by the Govt. of M.P. The Botanical Survey of India has considered the Botanical Gardens of the University as the richest amongst those of Indian Universities. Madhya Bharati, the research journal of the University and the Bulletin of the Botanical Society of the University are internationally abstracted. The research journals from the Dept. of Sanskrit Sagarika and Natyam have pride of place amongst the indological journals of the country. "Isuri" the journal from the Bundeli Peeth of Hindi Dept. is a perennial source of Bundelkhandi art and culture. The discovery of an impression Edicaranfossil Spriggina by the Applied Geology Department has created much interest internationally. The NAAC appointed by UGC has awarded Four stars status ( on a scale of five stars) to this University.