UNIVERSITY OF CALCUTTA

 

  • The University of Calcutta, was established on 24 January 1857, and was one of the first institutions in Asia to be established as a multidisciplinary and Western-style university. The formation of this university was the 'logical culmination' of the Bengal renaissance awakening that began with Raja Rammohun Roy.
  • The same year marked the foundation of Bombay and Madras universities as well as the Sepoy Mutiny.
  • Age old caste and gender restrictions started to be marginalized by the establishment of these institutions. However initial patronization were done by Brahmins and high caste Hindus who after their roles as advisors in the pre-colonial regime where now focused on serving the East India Company officials.
  • The university has a total of 14 campuses spread over the city of Kolkata and its suburbs. 
  • The land for the establishment of the present day main campus was given by Maharaja Maheshwar Singh Bahadur, who was a Maharaja of Darbhanga. When the university was first established it had under its jurisdiction area from Lahore to Rangoon (now in Myanmar), and Ceylon, the largest of any Indian university. Rev. Alexander Duff played an important role in its establishment. Sir Ashutosh Mukherjee was the Vice-Chancellor for four consecutive two-year terms (1906–1914) and a fifth two-year term (1921–23). Prasanna Kumar Tagore (who would later endow the Tagore chair in law) and Vidyasagar were among the pioneers in establishing the University. His marble statue adorns the entrance of the building. 
  • Derozians Ramgopal Ghosh, Peary Chand Mitra as well as orientalist and Asiatic Society stalwart Rajendralal Mitra were associated with the university. Krishna Mohun Banerjee was amongst the first batch to be awarded the honorary degree of doctor of law by the university in March 1876.
  • Asutosh museum of Indian Art is located in this campus.
  • Taraknath Siksha Prangan (also known as University College of Science or commonly Ballygunge Science College) is one of the campuses of the University, located on Ballygunge Circular Road. Sir Taraknath Palit (1831–1914) was an Indian lawyer from West Bengal and a philanthropist. He was associated with the Swadeshi Movement during the Partition of Bengal and was one of the key figures behind the establishment of Calcutta University and Jadavpur University. In June and October 1912, he executed two trust deeds for Calcutta University, donating Rs 1.5 million. On 1st January 1913, he received knighthood. The law department building adjoining Ballygunge Science College is now on the land donated by Taraknath Palit. Much of the property at Ballygunge Circular Road belonged to him. He invited people to settle there and started cultivation on unused land. He sold parts of the property at nominal price to his friends including Jadu Malik whose house (No. 26 BC road) was later lived by Sarala Devi during her maiden days.  His son Loken Palit was the Assistant Magistrate of Rajshahi educated at Cambridge University. Both of them had excellent oration skills.
  • This prestigious institution holds all India 4th position according to NIRF ranking 2021.



Statue of Prasanna Kumar Tagore










Pictures of College Street Campus

I proudly call this prestigious institution my alma mater.



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