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| work = [[Banglapedia]]
| work = [[Banglapedia]]
| publisher = Asiatic Society of Bangladesh
| publisher = Asiatic Society of Bangladesh
}}</ref> It was founded in 1857 during the administration of [[Charles Canning, 1st Earl Canning|Lord Canning]] (1856–1862), the [[Governor General of India]]. Dr [[Fredrick John]], the education secretary to the then British Government in India, first tendered a proposal to the British Government in London for the establishment of a university in Calcutta, along the lines of London University, but at that time the plan failed to obtain the necessary approval. However, a proposal to establish two universities, one in Calcutta and the other in Bombay was later accepted in 1854 and the necessary authority was given. The [[Calcutta University Act]] came into force on [[24 January]] [[1857]] and a 41-member Senate was formed as the policy making body of the university. When the university was first established it had a [[catchment area (human geography)|catchment area]] covering the area from [[Lahore]] to [[Yangon|Rangoon]] (now in [[Myanmar]]) , and [[Sri Lanka|Ceylon]] — the largest of any Indian university.<ref name=bpedia/>
}}</ref> It was founded in 1857 during the administration of [[Charles Canning, 1st Earl Canning|Lord Canning]] (1856–1862), the [[Governor General of India]]. Dr [[Fredrick John]], the education secretary to the then British Government in India, first tendered a proposal to the British Government in London for the establishment of a university in Calcutta to create an educated class in India that will help them rule India, similar to the London University, but at that time the plan failed to obtain the necessary approval. However, a proposal to establish two universities, one in Calcutta and the other in Bombay was later accepted in 1854 and the necessary authority was given. The [[Calcutta University Act]] came into force on [[24 January]] [[1857]] and a 41-member Senate was formed as the policy making body of the university. When the university was first established it had a [[catchment area (human geography)|catchment area]] covering the area from [[Lahore]] to [[Yangon|Rangoon]] (now in [[Myanmar]]) , and [[Sri Lanka|Ceylon]] — the largest of any Indian university.<ref name=bpedia/>


The first Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor of the Calcutta University were Governor General [[Lord Canning]] and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Sir [[James William Colvile]], respectively.<ref name=officialhist>{{cite web
The first Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor of the Calcutta University were Governor General [[Lord Canning]] and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Sir [[James William Colvile]], respectively.<ref name=officialhist>{{cite web
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In 1857 [http://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20061001/society.htm#1 Nawab Jassa Singh Ahluwalia Government College] in [[Kapurthala]] , [[Punjab (India)|Punjab]] province of [[British India]] became one of the first colleges to be affiliated with University of Calcutta. Later [[List of academic institutions formerly affiliated to the University of Calcutta|many institutions]] came under its jurisdiction. [[Kadambini Ganguly]] and [[Chandramukhi Basu]] became the first lady graduates of the country in 1882.<ref name=officialmemo/> The Hon'ble Justice [[Gooroodas Banerjee]] became the first Indian Vice-Chancellor of University of Calcutta in the year 1890.<ref name=officialhist/> Sir [[Ashutosh Mukherjee]] was the Vice-Chancellor for four consecutive two-year terms (1906–1914) and a fifth two-year term (1921–23).
In 1857 [http://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20061001/society.htm#1 Nawab Jassa Singh Ahluwalia Government College] in [[Kapurthala]] , [[Punjab (India)|Punjab]] province of [[British India]] became one of the first colleges to be affiliated with University of Calcutta. Later [[List of academic institutions formerly affiliated to the University of Calcutta|many institutions]] came under its jurisdiction. [[Kadambini Ganguly]] and [[Chandramukhi Basu]] became the first lady graduates of the country in 1882.<ref name=officialmemo/> The Hon'ble Justice [[Gooroodas Banerjee]] became the first Indian Vice-Chancellor of University of Calcutta in the year 1890.<ref name=officialhist/> Sir [[Ashutosh Mukherjee]] was the Vice-Chancellor for four consecutive two-year terms (1906–1914) and a fifth two-year term (1921–23).


'''''Bold text'''''==Campus==
==Campus==


[[Image:kolkata univ jeroje.jpg|thumb|Ashutosh Building at the College Street campus]]
[[Image:kolkata univ jeroje.jpg|thumb|Ashutosh Building at the College Street campus]]

Revision as of 07:22, 22 November 2008

University of Calcutta
File:Uni-Calcutta-logo.png
MottoAdvancement of Learning
TypePublic
EstablishedJanuary 24, 1857
ChancellorGopalkrishna Gandhi, Governor of West Bengal
Vice-ChancellorProfessor Suranjan Das
Undergraduates100,000 [1]
Postgraduates5,500 [2]
Location
Kolkata
,
West Bengal
,
India
CampusUrban; 12 campuses (excluding affiliated colleges)
RecognitionNational Assessment and Accreditation Council's ‘Five Star’; University Grants Commission’s ‘Centre with Potential for Excellence’
Websitewww.caluniv.ac.in

Formally established on the 24 January 1857, the University of Calcutta (also known as Calcutta University) (Template:Lang-bn), located in the city of Kolkata (previously Calcutta), India, is the first modern university in the Indian subcontinent. It is a state-government administered urban-based affiliating and research university. It has its main campuses in College Street, Rajabazar, Alipore, Hazra, South Sinthi and a host of affiliated colleges in greater Kolkata .

History

Main article: History of University of Calcutta

University of Calcutta is the oldest of the modern universities in India.[1] It was founded in 1857 during the administration of Lord Canning (1856–1862), the Governor General of India. Dr Fredrick John, the education secretary to the then British Government in India, first tendered a proposal to the British Government in London for the establishment of a university in Calcutta to create an educated class in India that will help them rule India, similar to the London University, but at that time the plan failed to obtain the necessary approval. However, a proposal to establish two universities, one in Calcutta and the other in Bombay was later accepted in 1854 and the necessary authority was given. The Calcutta University Act came into force on 24 January 1857 and a 41-member Senate was formed as the policy making body of the university. When the university was first established it had a catchment area covering the area from Lahore to Rangoon (now in Myanmar) , and Ceylon — the largest of any Indian university.[1]

The first Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor of the Calcutta University were Governor General Lord Canning and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Sir James William Colvile, respectively.[2] In 1858, Joddu Nath Bose and Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay became the first graduates of the university.[3] On 30 January 1858, the Syndicate of the Calcutta University started functioning.[3] The first meeting of the Senate was held in the Council room of the Calcutta Medical College. A temporary office of the university was started in a few rented rooms in Camac Street. For several years afterwards the meetings of the Senate and Syndicate were held in a room of the Writers' building. 244 candidates appeared for the first Entrance Examination of the university, held in March 1857 in the Town Hall of Calcutta. In 1862, a decision was taken by the Senate to construct for the university a building of its own. Accordingly, the historical Senate Hall was constructed at a cost of Rs. 2,52,221/- and inaugurated on 12 March 1873 by holding the convocation of the university.

In 1857 Nawab Jassa Singh Ahluwalia Government College in Kapurthala , Punjab province of British India became one of the first colleges to be affiliated with University of Calcutta. Later many institutions came under its jurisdiction. Kadambini Ganguly and Chandramukhi Basu became the first lady graduates of the country in 1882.[3] The Hon'ble Justice Gooroodas Banerjee became the first Indian Vice-Chancellor of University of Calcutta in the year 1890.[2] Sir Ashutosh Mukherjee was the Vice-Chancellor for four consecutive two-year terms (1906–1914) and a fifth two-year term (1921–23).

Campus

Ashutosh Building at the College Street campus

The university has several campuses spread over the city of Kolkata and its suburbs. The university also has many affiliated colleges spread over the southern West Bengal. The main campus of the university, located on College Street, is spread over a small area of 2.7 acres (much less than a square kilometer).[4] The main campus is also known as the Asutosh Siksha Prangan, and contains Darbhanga Building, Asutosh Building, Hardinge Building, and the Centenary Building.[5] The Rashbihari Siksha Prangan (also known as University College of Science and Technology or popularly Rajabazar Science College), located on Acharya Prafulla Chandra Road, houses several scientific and technological departments, e.g., pure and applied chemistry, pure and applied physics, applied mathematics, psychology, physiology, biophysics and molecular biology, to name a few.[5] Taraknath Siksha Prangan (also known as University College of Science or Ballygunge Science College) on Ballygunge Circular Road in the southern part of the city houses the departments of agriculture, anthropology, biochemistry, botany, genetics among others.[5] Other campuses are Hazra Road Campus, University Press And Book Depot, Sahid Khudiram Siksha Prangan, B. T. Road Campus, Viharilal College of Home Science Campus, University Health Service, Haringhata Campus, Dhakuria Lakes (University Rowing Club) and University Ground and Tent at Maidan.[5] The university has a plan to create a "Techno Campus", to bring together the engineering and technical departments under one roof, in Salt Lake.[6]

Academics

Faculties of the university

  • Faculty of Agriculture
  • Faculty of Arts
  • Faculty of Commerce, Social Welfare & Business Management
  • Faculty of Education, Journalism and Library Science
  • Faculty of Engineering & Technology
  • Faculty of Fine Arts, Music and Home Science
  • Faculty of Law
  • Faculty of Science

Faculties

Darbhanga Building at the College Street campus

University of Calcutta has fifty five departments organised into eight faculties — Agriculture; Arts; Commerce, Social Welfare & Business Management; Education, Journalism and Library Science; Engineering & Technology; Fine Arts, Music and Home Science; Law and Science.[7]

The faculty of Agriculture consists of the sole department of Institute of Agricultural Science and offers post graduate courses on agronomy, horticulture, Genetics & Plant Breeding and Seed Science & Technology among others.[8] The Arts faculty consists of 21 departments offering courses on several Indian (including Sanskrit and Pali) and foreign languages, linguistics, ancient Indian history and culture, Islamic history and culture, South & South east Asian studies and many more.[9] The departments of business management and commerce are under the faculty of Commerce, Social Welfare & Business Management. Courses on journalism and mass communication, library & information science are offered by the faculty of Education, Journalism and Library Science through three departments.[10]

Faculty of Engineering & Technology includes the departments of applied physics, chemical engineering, chemical technology, computer science and engineering, polymer science and technology, radiophysics and electronics, and computer centre.[11] Home science is the sole department in the faculty of Fine Arts, Music and Home Science, offering courses on subjects such as food and nutrition, human development, home science.[12] The faculty of Law comprises only one department of law while the faculty of Science has nineteen departments. The latter faculty offers courses on traditional science subjects like physics, chemistry, botany and also on subjects like biotechnology, microbiology, bioinformatics, marine science etc.[13]

Education and research

Undergraduates enroll for a three-year program. Students are assigned to a major when they enter the university, and cannot change it later. Science and business disciplines are in high demand, as these fields are perceived to have better job opportunities. Most programs are organized by years, though some programs use a semester system. Most departments offer masters programs that are one or two years in duration. Research in the university is conducted in specialized institutes as well as individual departments, many of which have doctoral programs.

The university has 18 research centers, 650 teachers,[citation needed] 3000 non-teaching staff and 12,400 post-graduate students.[citation needed]

A tradition of notable firsts

The Centenary Library at the College Street campus overlooking College Square. The library was built on the place of the previously existing University Senate Hall
  • The first university located to the east of Suez to teach European Classics, English Literature, European and Indian Philosophy and Occidental and Oriental History.
  • The first medical school of Asia, the Calcutta Medical College was set up in 1835. Later it was affiliated to the university.
  • The first college for women in India, the Bethune College was set up in 1879.
  • The nation's first homeopathy college was established in 1880.
  • The Science College was established in 1917, the first in India.
  • The first blind school in India came into being in 1925.
  • The first university museum in India, The Ashutosh Museum, came into being in 1937.
  • The Government Arts College was established in 1951.
  • The Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management (IISWBM) was set up in 1953 as the country's first management institute.

Recent accreditation and recognition

Notable alumni/faculty

Nobel Laureates:

Two former Presidents of India:

Other notable faculty:

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Head of State and Prime Minister of Arzi Hukumate Azad Hind (1942-1945) and co-founder of the Indian National Army was an alumnus.

Academy Honorary Award winner Satyajit Ray and his father Sukumar Ray were among the notable alumni.

Other important political leaders of South Asia who were its alumni include:

For a fuller list of the University's famous alumni, see the List of University of Calcutta people

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b Chakraborty, Rachana. "University of Calcutta". Banglapedia. Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. Retrieved 2007-03-22.
  2. ^ a b "Genesis and Historical Overview of the University". University and its Campuses. University of Calcutta. Retrieved 2007-03-22.
  3. ^ a b c "Memorable Events". University and its Campuses. University of Calcutta. Retrieved 2007-03-22.
  4. ^ "Campus Area". University and its Campuses. University of Calcutta. Retrieved 2007-04-11.
  5. ^ a b c d "Campuses". University and its Campuses. University of Calcutta. Retrieved 2007-04-11.
  6. ^ "Calcutta University plans Techno campus". Other States: West Bengal. The Hindu. 16 January 2006. Retrieved 2007-04-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ "Courses Offered". University of Calcutta. Retrieved 2007-04-11.
  8. ^ "Faculty Council for Post-Graduate Studies in Agriculture". Courses offered. University of Calcutta. Retrieved 2007-04-11.
  9. ^ "Faculty Council for Post-Graduate Studies in Arts". Courses offered. University of Calcutta. Retrieved 2007-04-11.
  10. ^ "Faculty Council for Post-Graduate Studies in Education, Journalism and Library Science". Courses offered. University of Calcutta. Retrieved 2007-04-11.
  11. ^ "Faculty Council for Post-Graduate Studies in Engineering & Technology". Courses offered. University of Calcutta. Retrieved 2007-04-11.
  12. ^ "Faculty Council for Post-Graduate Studies in Fine Arts, Music and Home Science". Courses offered. University of Calcutta. Retrieved 2007-04-11.
  13. ^ "Faculty Council for Post-Graduate Studies in Science". Courses offered. University of Calcutta. Retrieved 2007-04-11.
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