Walchand College of Engineering, Sangli

About Walchand College of Engineering, Sangli

Walchand College of Engineering is situated midway between Sangli and Miraj cities at Vishrambaug, Sangli. The WCE campus is located on nearly 102.50 acres of land on the southern side of Sangli – Miraj road. In 1947, college made a modest beginning with Civil Engineering undergraduate course. (B.E. Civil), with an intake capacity of 60. Subsequently undergraduate courses in electrical and mechanical engineering, B.E.(Elec) and B.E.(Mech), with intake capacity of 60 each were introduced during the years 1950 and 1951
The inception of this college is solely due to untiring and devoted efforts of Late Shri Dhondumama Sathe, a freedom fighter and a great visionary. He was also a reputed professional in construction with famous buildings like Sir S.P. College building and New English School building at Pune, Iron Education Society School building, Ruia College building and Jani building in Mumbai to his credit. During the period of his lifetime he also took an active part in the National Movement for Independence and many times plodded an imprisonment for six months or more. Shri Dhondumama Sathe strongly believed, “Marathi people should achieve excellence in industrial and business fields”. He formed Maharashtra Technical Education Society and started the New Engineering College on June 26, 1947. The college started with a degree course in civil engineering with Shri G. N. Gokhale as its first Principal. With this small step began a journey in which many people joined and contributed. Over a period, the College acquired 102.50 Acres land in Vishrambag area of Sangli city. His Highness Chintamanrao Patwardhan, the Rajasaheb of Sangli helped the college in all respects in addition to donating Rs. 1 Lakh. Seth Walchand Hirachand Memorial Trust headed by industrialist Seth Lalchand Hirachand came forward and donated a substantial sum of Rs. 5 lakhs in the year 1955. Under an arrangement reached between the Maharashtra Technical Education Society and the Seth Walchand Hirachand Memorial Trust, the college was renamed as Walchand College of Engineering in 1956 in presence of the then Vice President of India, Dr. S. Radhakrishnan. At the same time state and central governments also came forward and an annual recurring grant was started at 60% of admissible expenditure or the deficit whichever is less. In its first meeting on 16th May 1955, the Ad-hoc Committee decided to introduce three courses in Civil, Electrical & Mechanical engineering under degree and diploma in the college. Subsequently as per the Government policy the Governing Council called Administrative Council of Walchand College of Engineering was constituted on 20th November 1956. Prof. V. K. Kelkar became the first Principal of Walchand College of Engineering and led the college on the path of progress. Prin. G. C. Kanitkar took the charge in 1966 and contributed further to the growth of the College. Prin. Dr. P.A. Kulkarni during his tenure from 1979-1997 gave the modern goals and objectives to the college. During the Silver Jubilee celebrations, with the generous help of the then Chief Minister of Maharashtra State, Hon. Late. Padmabhushan Shri Vasantdada Patil, the recurring grants for the College was increased from 75% to 90%. On the occasion of silver jubilee the Administrative Council also established the Seth Gulabchand Research Foundation to give a new dimension to the college promoting Research and Development activities. The College celebrated Golden Jubilee in 1997–98. The Management, the faculty and support staff of the college look back with immense satisfaction that a sapling planted by Hon. Late Shri Dhondumama Sathe and cherished by Hon. Late Shri Annasaheb Behere has over the years flourished into a beautiful tree with branches and fruits. Its students have been highly successful in business, industries, R & D as well as academics both in India and abroad.