“Presidency University has a unique place in history. It was one of the first few institutes of Western-type higher education in Asia. In 1817, a group of enlightened Indians and Englishmen set up the Hindoo College. This was taken over by the British Government in 1855 as the College of the Bengal Presidency, and placed in 1857 under the newly founded Calcutta University. Over the next hundred years and more, Presidency College was Bengal’s pre-eminent center of higher learning. The formal establishment of Presidency University in July 2010 allowed it to refashion its venerable traditions and continuing strengths into a leading institution of the future.”
The Glorious History is its Greatest Strength
Two hundred years ago a civic initiative in the city of Calcutta led to the establishment of an institution for imparting liberal education. In our history of educational institutions attaining global modernity, Presidency University has proved its competency time and again. When the Government proposed on 27 November 1852 to turn Hindoo College into a public institution open to all communities, the College was on its way to become one of the pioneering academic institutions in the world. During the nineteenth century, the faculty and students of Presidency College played an innovative part in the making of Indian modernity and the articulation of its many persons. In the early twentieth century, they met the challenge of contesting colonial power while creatively engaging with Europe in the domain of generating and disseminating new forms of knowledge. Home to a galaxy of dedicated scholar-teachers and brilliant students, Presidency College maintained its status as India’s premier institution for higher education in the early decades after independence.
This challenge of a magnificent history and esteemed tradition is their utmost asset. In recognition of this rich heritage and academic excellence, the Legislature of West Bengal conferred the status of a University on Presidency College. This was enacted with a view to empower Presidency University to function more efficiently as a center of teaching and research in various branches of learning and promoting advancement and dissemination of knowledge and learning in the service of the society and the nation.
Notable Alumni of the University
Having introduced to some prominent leaders and avant-garde thinkers such as Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, Swami Vivekananda, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Anandaram Barooah, Humayun Kabir, Satyendranath Bose, Meghnad Saha, Jibanananda Das, Satyajit Ray, Amartya Sen and Gayatri Spivak, this institution boasts a rich heritage of excellence in liberal arts and sciences. The pioneering discoveries of Jagadish Chandra Bose and Praphulla Chandra Ray in Physics/ Plant Physiology and Chemistry respectively were made in the laboratories of the college. Teaching of both liberal arts and empirical sciences acquired true excellence in the nineteenth century and the tradition continued even after independence. Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay and Anandaram Barooah, students of the college, enriched Bengali and Asaamese literature. Amartya Sen and Sukhomoy Chakraborty made contributions to economic theory in the decades after independence. The college amongst whose alumni was a former President of India (Dr. Rajendra Prasad), a Prime Minister of Pakistan (Muhammad Ali of Bogra) and a President of Bangladesh (Abu Sayeed Chowdhury) had a challenging past to live up to.
Its distinguished alumni have left their impressive mark in academia and all walks of life across the country and in different parts of the world. Thus, be it in the academic field, politics, media or social reformers, Presidency’s alumni always held the flag, flying high above. Their contributions to the society and to the country are immense. For two centuries, this institution has inspired countless world-changing ideas, creations and discoveries. The alumni are legends – from Nobel laureates to writers, philosophers to historians, presidents to Oscar winner pioneer scientists.
Keeping Alive the Legacy of Academic Excellence
The Presidency University, which traces its history back to 1817, has played a major role in shaping the intellectual and socio-political fabric of West Bengal. The University provides 16 academic courses to the students─ Bengali, Life Sciences, Chemistry, Economics, English, Geography, Geology, Hindi, History, Mathematics, Performing Arts, Physics, Philosophy, Political Science, Sociology and Statistics. All the departments have 4-5 lecture theatres with seminar rooms and smart classes. The students as well as the faculties are provided with the best amenities, to make learning more enjoyable. All the faculties of the University are highly qualified and experienced people. They engage the students in continuous brainstorming sessions, lectures and discussions.
The campus extends over a land of 17 acres and the second campus of the University located in Rajarhat, Kolkata is in its fundamental stages. Presidency University provides world class facilities to its students and it has always looked for the all-round development of the students.
Presidency University boasts an ‘A’ grade in the NAAC accreditations in the Fifth year of its action. The University also has the NIRF Rank of 41 in the year 2015-16. Principally, all the students of the University have higher academic goals; they go for research and settle in one of the top universities of the world. However, there are avenues and placements for all those who believe that change is the only constant. The university has its own placement cell, where every year many students get placed in different other areas of society, a few remarkable ones are Bridge 121, Deloitte, HSBC, Affine Analytics, TCS, Cognizant, Hindustan Zinc Limited, Paper True, TIS, Pradan, R.S.Software and others.
Presidency supports Financial Aid in this Changing World
Among all the preferred facilities, Presidency University has always extended its help to meritorious students and never failed to nourish the young minds. Being a state aided University, the fees of the course are minimal and Presidency believes in making the future leaders of the country. In addition to these, the University also provides certain in house scholarships for encouraging all the under privileged brilliant minds, namely Merit-Cum-Means, Student Aid and Free Studentship. Presidency University teaches its students to deal with one’s short-comings, not to be weak and reach the peak of success. There are also endowments from alumni and the citizens allow meritorious students to be rewarded with prize, medals and scholarships. The students of Presidency are one step ahead of others. They not only help them to build their academics and make their future bright but also nurture their free spirit and encourage them to dream bigger.
The University’s Annual Events and Activities to look forward to
Presidency believes “Learning is not only about reading and giving examinations; it is also about enjoying, having fun and instilling in us the urge to know more and learn more.” Therefore, Presidency University is not only one of the top universities but also is a well-known place for cherishing young talents. Every year, it organizes the Derozio Memorial Debate; Calcutta Debating Society gives an international platform for the students to reach to all its heights. There are various public outreach programs like the science departments organizing Brainware programs and students from different departments participating in the NSS programs. In addition to this, there are various lectures, seminars and activities that keep going in the campus organized by various departments.
