:::Presidency College, Kolkata :::

History of the College

With the creation of the Supreme Court in Calcutta in 1774 many Hindus of Bengal became eager to learn the English language. A remarkable Scot watchmaker, in collaboration with Radhakanta Deb had already taken some steps in that direction. Babu Buddinath Mukherjee advanced it further by enlisting the support of Sir Edward Hyde East, Chief Justice, Supreme Court who called a meeting of 'European and Hindu Gentlemen' in his house in May, 1816. The purpose of the meeting was to 'discuss the proposal to establish an institution for giving a liberal education to the children of the members of the Hindu Community'. The proposal was received with unanimous approbation and donation over one hundred thousand rupees was promised right there. Raja Ram Mohan Roy had full sympathy for the scheme but chose not to come out in support of the proposal publicly for fear of 'alarming the prejudices of his orthodox countrymen and thus marring the whole idea'.

The College formally opened on Monday, January 20, 1817 with twenty 'scholars'. The control of the institution was vested in a body of two Governors and four Directors. The first Governors were Maharaja Tejchandra Bahadur of Burdwan and Babu Gopee Mohan Thakoor. The first Directors were Babu Gopeemohan Deb (father of Raja Radhakanta Deb of Sobhabazar), Babu Joykissen Sinha (grandfather of Kaliprasanna Sinha, the translator of Mahabharata into Bengali), Babu Radha Madhab Banerjee and Babu Gunganarain Doss, Babu Buddinath Mukherjee was the Secretary.

The classes were held at first in a rented house belonging to Gorachand Bysack at Garanhatta (later numbered 304 Chitpore Road). In January 1818 the Hindu College moved to 'Feringhi Kamal Bose's house' located nearby. The building is a historic one because Raja Ram Mohan Ray inaugurated his Brahma Sabha here and Duff started his educational establishment later in 1834. From Chitpore, the Hindu College eventually shifted to Bowbazar and later to a building that now houses the Sanskrit College.

Increasing realization of the value of western education made the Hindu College a coveted destination of scholars from all over India. Pupils came from Patna, Assam, Vizagapatnam and by 1828 enrolment rose to 400. The obvious question, which was raised, was whether it would not be wiser for government to establish a new 'English College' open to all classes and community and leave the Hindu College to its fate. Incidentally, facing financial problems, the Committee of Managers of the Hindu College had become dependant on subsidy from the government which, as expected, began to play a greater role in running the affairs of the College.

On October 21, 1853, His Lordship the Governor of Bengal suggested that "a new general college should be established at Calcutta by the government and designated 'The Presidency College' …….. the College should be open to all youths of every caste, class or creed…….". On June 15, 1855 the Presidency College was formally established. The 'scholars' of the College Department of the Hindu College were transferred to the Presidency College and 101 new admissions were made. Of this 101 pupils, two were 'Muhammadans', the rest were Hindus.

The problem of space had been plaguing the College authorities even after the expansion of the Sanskrit College building. The process of the land acquisition for having its own campus started in September 1865 and by 1870 the Principal of the Presidency College was in a position to submit a plan for the erection of a building for the College on the premises where it was located now. The new edifice was opened on March 31, 1874 by the then Lieutenant – Governor Sir George Campbell in the presence of His Excellency of the Viceroy of India. The finishing touch was given to the dignity of the edifice by Babu Nuffer Chandra Pal Chaudhuri, who provided it with a turret clock, at a cost of nearly Rs. 5000.00 soon after its opening. Professor J. Sutcliffe was the Principal of the College when the new building was opened.

Site Map Campus Map FAEA Alumni Association Events Photo Gallery Contact Us