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Formally established on the 24 January 1857 , the University Of Calcutta (also known as Calcutta University), 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 and a host of affiliated colleges in greater Calcutta . HISTORY Pioneers and visionaries As the first modern university in the Indian sub-continent the University saw its direction being steered by the first Indian vice-chancellor, Sir Gooroodas Banerjee and later by the Indian vice-chancellors Sir Ashutosh Mukherjee and his son Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee (also a vice chancellor). Other renowned teachers and educationists such as:
have all worked at the university. It was Dr. Fredrick John , the education secretary to the then British Government in India, who 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. During the British era and through the period until Independence in the 1960s , it was regarded as one of the few seats of academic excellence to the east of Suez . When the university was first established it had a Catchment Area covering the area from Lahore to Rangoon (now in Myanmar ) - the largest of any Indian university. Early begininings Members of the University's first Senate include:
The first Chancellor and Vice-chancellor of the Calcutta University were the then Governor General Lord Canning and Sir James William Colvil , the then Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, respectively. Sir Gooroodas Banerjee was the first Indian vice Chancellor of the University of Calcutta. The first meeting of the Senate was held in the Council room of the Calcutta Medical College. A temporary office of the university was first started in a few rented rooms in Camac Street. On 30 January 1858 , the Syndicate of the Calcutta University was constituted.For several years, afterwards the meetings of the Senate and Syndicate were held in a room of the Writer's Building. 244 candidates appeared for the first Entrance Examination of the university which was held in the month of 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. TRADITION AND CONTINUITY Modelled on the University Of London , the University of Calcutta's current courses include:
At a glance Calcutta University currently has:
A tradition of notable firsts
ACADEMIC MILIEU Students from the university have been taking higher studies abroad since its inception. Its alumni are to be found all over the world. During the British era and in the era after Independence to the 1980s , the preferred destinations for pursuing advanced studies were primarily the United Kingdom , United States Of America , Eire , France , Soviet Union and Germany . Recent preferences for visiting students of this university include, apart from the above, Canada , Australia , New Zealand , the Commonwealth Of Independent States , Cyprus , China , Japan , Hong Kong , and Singapore . Also, in a contrast to the previous era, where the preferred subjects were Humanities , Science , Engineering , Medicine , and Law , the currently preferred subjects are:
Recent surveys among students also indicate an increasing demand for subjects that relate to Natural Sciences , Humanities and Social Science s. RECENT ACCREDITATION AND RECOGNITION
The university has been awarded the ‘five star university’ status by the National Accreditation And Assessment Council in 2001.
The Institute of Higher Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University , China has recently prepared a list of the world's top 500 institutions of higher learning (universities, research institutes etc.). The complete list is now available on the internet under the heading "Academic Ranking of World Universities, 2004" (see link above). The University of Calcutta is the only university from India to appear on the list. The other institutions from India on the list are the Indian Institute Of Science, Bangalore and the Indian Institute Of Technology, Kharagpur .
On December 8, 2005, the Indian University Grants Commission declared Calcutta University as a ‘‘University with Potential for Excellence’’.
On November 10, 2005, The Times Higher Education Supplement published its list of the world's top arts and humanities universities. CU, ranked 39, is the only Indian university to make it to the top 50 list. The other university from India to be in the top 100 list is the University Of Delhi . NOTABLE ALUMNI/FACULTY Three Nobel Laureate s were associated with this University: as were two past Presidents Of India :
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose , Head Of State and Prime Minister of Arzi Hukumate Azad Hind (1942-1945) and co-counder of the Indian National Army was an alumnus. 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 . EXTERNAL LINKS
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