Sitabai Arts College, Akola

About Sitabai Arts College, Akola

Sitabai Arts College, Akola has 72 years of history as the flagship of higher education in Akola. Alma Mater to leaders across the entire spectrum of societal positions: M.L.A.s, Industrialists, Academicians, Scholars, Litterateurs, Artistes, and Sportspersons. Our college is one of the oldest in Vidarbha, bringing the stream of knowledge to this part of India since pre-Independence period. From the very beginning this college has been playing a major role in providing quality education to the weaker sections and the needy citizens of this region so that they may come up as economically and socially capable class of society. In its existence of six decades the college has produced a fairly large number of scholars, teachers, administrators, judges, advocates, political leaders, and whole generations of enlightened individuals who have enriched the society variously and are still contributing to its proper growth and development.

By assigning due importance to cultural activities along with academic ones, we aim at moulding our students into sensible and considerate civilians of the future. In the fields of sports, N.C.C., N.S.S., extension work also we have commendable achievements to our claim. One distinguished feature of this college in recent years is the induction of Urdu and Persian Literatures in its teaching program. Another such course in Functional English has also been started year before last to serve the much felt need of the vernacular students In a word, our college is a premier institution imparting valuable contribution in the fields of literature, fine arts, social sciences, and law etc. We have full confidence in ourselves as well as unshakeable faith in our students that the society at large would never be disappointed in us any way.

The College offers a three tier package, beginning with the Junior college that caters to students passing out from school. Comprehensive courses are offered, preparing students to launch out into professional courses or continue on towards graduate studies in the Senior College.
At the Senior College, students can work towards a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in a range of subjects spanning Languages, Social Sciences, Music, Home Economics, and Functional Marathi also. Post-Graduate degree courses offered in the Arts stream i.e. Marathi, Hindi, Sanskrit, English, Sociology, Political Science, Economics, and History. These subjects offer facilities for Doctoral Research as well.A sprawling campus, in the heart of the city, provides space for Hostel facility (For Girls only), sports, games and cultural facilities which contribute to the well rounded development of all students.

As you enter the Principal’s chamber of Sitabai Arts College, your eyes behold the Portrait Gallery of the Saptarshi: the seven sages or Wiseman who were the Founding Father of this Temple of Learning. It is significant that the plaque is displayed just behind the Principal’s seat, so that the visitor can’t miss watching it, since it is the inspiring and motivating spirit behind all the progress and prosperity achieved by the S.A. College and the sister institution affiliated to the Berar General Society. These seven ‘Colossus’: the mighty heads and hearts reared the S.A.C. from the hollow to respectability. They have shown by their example that if there is a right combination, having a right person to lead, with a right attitude, knowing what exactly is to be done, and when for the team to succeed, then the college that emerges is S.A. C. It then has such a singular distinction of its name value that it defies even Shakespeare who asked ‘what is in name?’ and further commented
'That we call rose by any other name Shall smell as sweet,'

Yet try this melody of on S.A.C. call it by any name other than SAC. It wouldn’t’ve that sonority as of the present one. The College developed its own system: incomparable, inimitable, and matchless. And this has been the singular achievement of the Saptarshi- the Great of the Great Gurus among whom are reckon Pro. G D.Joshi (Principal) Prof. N.R. Kelkar (Vice-Principal) Prof. R. K. Page, Prof. K.S. Joglekar. They were all academicians to the core, the impact-makers who created and cultivated high values of life, noble ideology, and right thought and learning process among generations of young men and women and perfectly answered the encomium “Aacharya Devobhav”.

Among them all Prof. G. D. alias Baburao Joshi was the most towering personality and the central pillar. A scholar and a teacher in his own right, he was the Founder Principal of the College, which at the inception was name Berar Arts College (1937) He was one of those beings who had a great measure of versatility. He was an exemplar as a student and an icon as a teacher. At his postgraduate in Sanskrit, his answer book was checked by no. less an eminence than the late Bharat Ratna, Maha Mahapodhyay P. W. Kane, who remarked that he had never before checked so perfect and so beautifully written answer-book in his entire career. No doubt as a student G.D. Joshi knew no second. This was coupled with his being a Champion in Table Tennis of the then Morris College, Nagpur.He had special interest in Mathematics. But this was just the beginning of the Divine Mission of life for which he was ordained: viz, launching of S.A.C.

Born of a middle-class priest family G.D. Joshi was not that well-off financially to set up a college, particularly in 1937 when there was a global, recession and gathering clouds of World War II of 1939. But he was rich in determination and devotion to the cause of higher education. The College was initially started in the name and style of Berar Arts College and then the search of the suitable campus began. The present campus, where the SAC is housed at present, was on sale for Rs. 10,000/-. But money was the main problem. No local money-lender would risk making loan, knowing the financial position of the College. But the crusader in G.D. Joshi awakened. The adventurous Youngman went to Pune, and on personal security and risk secured a loan of the equal amount and bought the premises with a building standing thereon. Soon after pleased with his urge and integrity the late Smt. Sitabai Jain offered him Rs.12,000/- unconditionally of which he took only Rs.10,000/- a bare amount to repay the debt and named. The college after her for her selfless bounty: A befitting tribute. In all this G. D. Joshi becomes an embodiment of the, motto of the BGE society “Na Nishchitarthadwirmanti Dhira:”-“The Bold and the Brave never cease to work until the set-goal is reached”. In recognition of his serious the BGE Society paid a tribute to him by framing a constitution providing life time Principalship to G.D.Joshi and Vice-Principal to Prof. N.R. Kelkar.

Vision
The Berar General Education Society was founded on January 14, 1935, Sitabai Arts College is the first college established by the society in the year 1938. Since inception the college has been functioning as once of the most progressive centers of higher education in Vidarbha region. Every year hundreds of students pursue graduation and post graduation in Arts successfully from here. The college offers an enriching blend of academic and cultural life, and encourages students to develop a passion for learning and confidence in their skills, importantly; It provides affordable educational opportunities to diverse student population coming from less affluent backgrounds. In seven decades of its existence the college has moulded generations of intellectual, cultural, and social giants who have served the nation and humanity variously. And the tradition continues.

Mission:
Sitabai Arts College is a student-centered institution. The focus of all our efforts is on the development, promotion, support, and empowerment of students moral, intellectual, and professional abilities as well as social and cultural responsibilities. We highly value excellence in every sphere of life and strive to inculcate that value system in our students.