:::Presidency College, Kolkata :::

Presidency College Alumni Association (PCAA): A Brief Profile

The history of Presidency College dates back to the nineteenth century. It was first established as Hindoo College in 1816 and later rechristened Presidency College in 1855. However, the Alumni Association of the College did not come into existence at that time. An attempt of sorts was made on January 1, 1875 when a re-union of past students took place in 'Marakata Kunja'-Emerald Bower – of the Tagores. The occasion has been made memorable by Rajnarayan Basu, in the History of the Presidency College.

On the College Founders' Day – January 20 of 1915, some alumni, under the leadership of Prafulla Chandra Ghosh, decided to establish an Old Boys Association. Unfortunately, nothing came out of that move. In 1925, a similar initiative taken by the same Professor met with identical fate. On March 20, 1926 some sort of an 'alumni meet' took place when the college arranged a gathering of 'Veteran graduates of fifty years' standing.

A more organized attempt was made in 1934 and a Presidency College Association was formed with Surendra Nath Mallick as Chairman and Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis as Secretary. But unfortunately once again the endeavour proved to be ephemeral. On January 19, 1951, a meeting of the former students of the College was called by a Press Notice. It was held in the Physics lecture Theatre with Mahmood Ahmad (1903-1908), the senior-most alumnus present in the chair. The first office bearers and members of the Executive Council were elected. The office bearers were:

President	Atul Chandra Gupta
Vice-Presidents	Satinath Ray
	Shyamaprasad Mukhopadhyay
Secretary	Jatish Chandra Sengupta, Principal

At long last the Presidency College got an Alumni Association that has been functioning without any interruption from its inception in 1951 till to day.

RECENT ACTIVITIES

The Alumni Association functions through several committees such as the Reunion Subcommittee, tbhe Seminar Committee, the Publication Committee, the Press and Media Committee, the Information Technology Committee, the Past-Present Coordination Committee etc. The Reunion Committee organizes the Founders’ Day Celebration on 20 January every year. The Udayan Mukherjee Memorial Past Vs Presnt Debate is organized by the Seminar Committee. The Past-Present Coordination Committee plays an important role to introduce presnt students to ex-students. The Coordination Committee helps present students for placement, progression to higher studies and counseling for career options.

In March 2004, the Association organized a Panel Discussion on "Stage or TV, which attracts the young generation more". Eminent stage and media personalities, like Sri Bibhas Chakrabarty, Sri Sohag Sen, Sm. Alaknanda Ray, Sri Debabrata Bandyopadhyay participated in the discussion. Sri. Samik Bandyopadhyay acted as the moderator. In May 2004, the Association enacted "Projapati", – a play written by the President of the Association, Dr. Pratap Chandra Chunder. A number of Executive Members along with some alumni of the college acted in the play.

The Association installed a bronze plaque of Acharya Prafulla Chandra Roy in the Chemistry Department of the College. The plaque was donated by the management of Bengal Chemical. Dr. Pratap Chandra Chunder unveiled the plaque.

The Alumni Association launched its website with url: www.presidencyalumnical.com

On 18th December 2004, the Presidency College Alumni Association, in collaboration with the Presidency College Debating Society, organized the First Udayan Mukherjee Memorial Debate between the past and the present students of the college. The motion for the debate was: " The Policy of Reservation is an Impediment to Social Progress". The Present Team won the debate. Sri Parthasarathi Sengupta, an alumnus and a noted lawyer has created an endowment of Rs. 1 lakh in memory of Udayan Mukherjee, and the Udayan Mukherjee Memorial Debate will be held every year between the past and the present students of the college.

On 3rd January 2005, the Association organized a seminar on "Coalition Government in India: Recent Experience and Prospects". The speakers in the seminar were Prof. Rajat Kanta Ray, Prof. Rakhahari Chatterjee, Prof. Prasanta Ray, and Sri. Rudrangshu Mukherjee. Prof. Tapan Roy Chaudhury acted as the moderator.

On 20^th January, 2005, like every year, the Association organised a reunion to celebrate the 188^th Founders' day of the college with a cultural programme consisting of audio-drama by a group of alumni and a musical soiree by Presidency College Choir. On Founders’ Day the Alumni Association brings out a magazine entitled ‘Autumn Annual’ with writings of many distinguished alumni.

On 6^th February, 2005, a steamer party was organised on the Hooghly. The alumni, their family members and friends thoroughly enjoyed themselves by ruminating on past events and taking part in various cultural activities.

On 23^rd April, 2005, to commemorate the foundation day of the Alumni Association a cultural night was organised at Sisir Mancha. The programme consisted of a musical soiree- "RUPASI BANGLA" and a drama _ "DARPANE SARATSASHI" enacted by alumni members.

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