PRESIDENCY
COLLEGE
The illustrious history of academic excellence of
Presidency College, Kolkata is intimately entwined with the intellectual history
of Bengal and India. 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 Hindoo 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 foundation of the Hindoo College in 1817 has
had far reaching effects on the social and cultural history of the country.
Increasing realization of the value of western education made the Hindoo College
a coveted destination of scholars from all over India. Incidentally, facing
financial problems, the Committee of Managers of the Hindoo 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 it will
be designated 'The Presidency College'. This 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 different departments of
the Hindoo College were transferred to the Presidency College and 101 new
admissions were made. In this year the college was brought under the direct
control of the Government. The college was founded with the expressed intention
of providing modern education to the Indian students. Though originally meant
for the boys of the Hindoo elite, the college was thrown open to all communities
after 1855. 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. Professor J. Sutcliffe was the Principal of the College when
the new building was opened.
The liberal,
secular, scientific spirit that marked the advent of Indian modernity thus was
born in this college. Indeed, the history of the college merges into the history
of the Bengal, and by extension, the Indian Renaissance.
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