- The foundation of Scottish Church College was laid by Dr. Alexander
Duff, the first overseas missionary of the Church of Scotland to India.
- Initially known as the General Assembly's Institution, it was founded on
the 13th July, 1830. Rev. Alexander Duff opened his institution in Kamal Bose's
(an Anglo Indian) house, upper Chitpur Road, Jorasanko. In 1836 the institution
was moved to Gorachand Basak's house in Garanhata and in 1836 the present
building was begun.
- In 1840 the Institution could be divided into School
and College departments.
- Alexander Duff (1806-1878) was
born in Scotland on 25th April, 1806. He had a brilliant career and arrived in
Calcutta on 27th May, 1830 after two shipwrecks. In India, Dr. Duff had played
a significant role in imparting western education through the medium of English.
This further paved the way for the inculcation of western philosophy and
western way of living within the Indian society. Dr. Duff developed a profound
love for India which is evident from his farewell speech "wherever I
wander, wherever I roam, wherever I labour, wherever I rest my heart will be
still in India."
- Experimentations in pedagogy and examinations
were tried out for betterment of education. Dr. Duff arranged to hold a public
examination of his pupils in the hall of the Freemason's Lodge at 118
Dhurmutollah on 12th August, 1831. During the last four years of his
life in India Alexander Duff served as the President of the Bethune Society
which he re-vitalised.
- Among several notable alumni, the most noteworthy
were Swami Vivekananda who graduated from the General Assembly's Institution in
1883 and the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose from the Scottish Church College in
1919.
- It was largely due to the efforts of Dr. and Mrs. Urquhart that
co-education was achieved in the Scottish Church College. Dr. Urquhart added
the Zoology Department to the College and opened the B.T. Department for women.
|
Dr. Aexander Duff |
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The majestic building |
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Entrance |
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Principal's chamber |
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Way to the prayer hall |
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Plaque |
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Podium at the prayer hall |
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Way to the first floor |
Reference:
https://www.scottishchurch.ac.in/college_history.php
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