Bangabasi Morning College, Kolkata

About Bangabasi Morning College, Kolkata

The Bangabasi Group of Colleges, comprising of Bangabasi Morning College, Bangabasi College and Bangabasi Evening College, owe their inception to a common mother institution called Bangabasi College, founded more than a century ago in 1887 by the great academician, philanthrophist, nationalist and renowned botanist Acharya Girish Chandra Bose. In those days, much before India obtained independence, it was the vision of this man to enkindle the light of knowledge amongst all, particularly among the poorest of poorer sections of society that led to the foundation of the institute. The name Bangabasi stands for all the dwellers of Bengal, then undivided, whose educational upliftment it took for as its mission. Under the guiding influence of Pundit Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar, Acharya Bose led the institution through a chequered path ridden with severe political and financial hurdles and soon established it as a hallowed institution in the forefront of knowledge as well as the Nationalist Movement. Through much turmoil the college moved into the present building in 1903. The zeal of the mission that took shape in the institute was carried forward after Acharya Bose by his youngest son, the Oxford scholar, Prasanta Kumar Bose who took over the reins in 1934 and guided the institute through the Independence. After the Independence and the Partition of Bengal, the consequent huge migration of population led to a heavy swell in the influx of students. In order to accomodate those overnumbering young men and women the mother institution opened shift units in the morning and the evening. Historically speaking, it was the morning unit, opened as far back as in 1947, from which descended Bangabasi Morning College. The college gained independent existence when in 1964-65 under the Phased Reduction Scheme of the UGC, the mother institute was trifurcated and the different shift units turned into separate independent colleges. As per the UGC Scheme policy, the "day college" continued with the original name. On 18th January 1965, Bangabasi Morning College acquired her own identity as a full fledged independent institution, affiliated to the University of Calcutta and Dr. Anil Kumar Roy Chowdhury became its first principal. However, the College continues to tread the path of disemmination of knowledge to all and particularly the poorer and weaker sections of society as shown by Acharya Ginsh Chandra Bose, whom all the colleges of the Bangabasi Group deem as their loving and revered founder. His lofty vision remains enshrined for ever in the three words on the College monogram: pranipatena, pariprashnena, sevaya — by reverence, questioning and service can one pursue the true end of knowledge.

The founding fathers of the College found it expedient to open this College with faculties of Science, Arts and Commerce enshrined in it. The College has seen many glorious and exalted faculties in the past. Stalwarts like Abani Biswas, Phani babu walked these corridors of knowledge and erudition. Keeping in touch with the rich tradition of excellence, the College continued to make steady advance in the academic pursuit through introduction of new subject courses. The Urdu department was opened in 1973. Over the years the department inceasingly involved itself in serving the cause of Urdu teaching in particular and spread of education among the Muslim minorities in general. In this regard the College enrolled special students from many nearby colleges who would attend Urdu classes in this department. These students were given special Roll numbers and had to pay a discounted fees, since they were enrolled only for Urdu classes. Students from hallowed institutions like Victoria Institute for Girls, St. Paul’s College, City College, Calcutta Girls' College, Jogomaya Devi College, among others attended classes in this department. By middle of 1980s, the department was in the forefront for spreading the message of the need for Urdu teaching in Calcutta institutions and to this end the All India Urdu Co-ordination Council was established. Bangabasi Morning College continues to be one of the handful number of colleges where Urdu is taught at undergraduate level. The College also opened Honours course in the Commerce Faculty in Accountancy, now known as Accounting and Finance Group, in 1994.

Responding to the changing times and the demands of the new age, Computer Science was introduced as a subject in pass course in 2001 and as honours course in 2002. Honours courses were introduced in Physics in 2005 and in Botany in 2006. The Physics honours laboratory is now state-of-the-art with facilities at par with the best of colleges of the state. Relentless efforts on the part of the teaching and non teaching staff coupled with their warmth and cooperation have provided a friendly, amiable ambience to students who wish to excel and shine in life. The vision envisaged by the College authorities has ensured Bangabasi Morning College the position of a unique and distinguished centre of learning. Its continued thrust on education policy earned the College a NAAC evaluation grade of B+ in 2007.