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Presidency College, Kolkata

Presidency University
প্রেসিডেন্সি বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়
Presidency University Kolkata New Logo 200years.jpg
Former names
Hindu College
Presidency College
Motto Excellence since 1817
Type Public
Established 20 January 1817; 200 years ago (20 January 1817)
Founders Raja Rammohan Roy
David Hare
Sir Edward Hyde East
Radhakanta Deb
Baidyanath Mukhopadhya
Rasamay Dutt
Chancellor Keshari Nath Tripathi
Governor of West Bengal
Vice-Chancellor Anuradha Lohia
Students 2,198
Undergraduates 1,462
Postgraduates 736
Location Kolkata, West Bengal, India
22°34′35″N 88°21′44″E / 22.57639°N 88.36222°E / 22.57639; 88.36222Coordinates: 22°34′35″N 88°21′44″E / 22.57639°N 88.36222°E / 22.57639; 88.36222
Campus Urban
Affiliations UGC, NAAC, AIU
Website presiuniv.ac.in

Presidency University, Kolkata, formerly Hindu College and Presidency College, is a public state university located in Kolkata, West Bengal. The college was established in 1817 by Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Radhakanta Deb, David Hare, Justice Sir Edward Hyde East, Baidyanath Mukhopadhya and Rasamay Dutt.

With the creation of the Supreme Court of Calcutta in 1773 many Hindus of Bengal showed eagerness to learn the English language. David Hare, in collaboration with Raja Radhakanta Deb had already taken steps to introduce English education in Bengal. Babu Buddinath Mukherjee advanced the introduction of English as a medium of instruction further by enlisting the support of Sir Edward Hyde East, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Fort William 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 a donation of over Rs. 100, 000 was promised for the setting up of the new college. Raja Ram Mohan Roy showed 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 was formally opened on Monday, 20 January 1817 with 20 'scholars'. The foundation committee of the college, which oversaw its establishment, was headed by Raja Rammohan Roy. The control of the institution was vested in a body of two Governors and four Directors. The first Governors of the college were Maharaja Tejchandra Bahadur of Burdwan and Babu Gopee Mohan Thakoor. The first Directors were Babu Gopi Mohun Deb of Sobhabazar, Babu Joykissen Sinha, Babu Radha Madhab Banerjee and Babu Gunganarain Doss. Babu Buddinath Mukherjee was appointed as the first Secretary of the college. The newly established college mostly admitted Hindu students from affluent and progressive families, but also admitted non-Hindu students such as Muslims, Jews, Christians and Buddhists.


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