Sammilani Mahavidyalaya, Kolkata

About Sammilani Mahavidyalaya, Kolkata

At the outset I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the members of the Governing Body of Sammilani Mahavidyalaya for offering me to hold the chair of the President of the Governing Body, Which, I believe, gives me a unique opportunity to serve the college. I also take this opportunity to pay my homage to Prof. Ramaranjan Mukherji, former President of the college and whom all of us miss because of his untimely, sad and sudden demise. I have personally Prof. Mukherji, over years, as an outstanding academician and an able administrator and organizer dedicated to the cause of education in our country in general and in Sammilani Mahavidyalaya in particular. This is an appropriate occasion to remember his significant contribution to the development of the college. Let me recall the modest beginning of the college, in 1996, enjoying the patronage of local community under the leadership of some well known and renowned educationist. It started functioning from Santoshpur Vidyamandir School (Boys) – a secondary school as an evening college. I can well realize that the physical distance between this school at Santoshpur and the present impressive building of the college near Baghajatin Railway Station in small but the journey from there to here is not. I understand that it has been an arduous journey fraught with innumerable problems and very difficult challenges. Many people, in different ways, I presume, have contributed to this spectacular development of the college in such a short span of time. Among others, the material and moral support provided by with unflinching dedication, as well as the services rendered by academician Prof. K.P.Majumdar, Hon’ble Minister Sri. Kanti Ganguly, the first Principal, Dr. Modan Mohan Chel, the present Principal Dr. Santiranjan Palchaudhuri, the erstwhile Teacher-in-Charge Dr. Archana Biswas Dhar are on record to be emulated by posterity. The active support of the State Government is also gratefully acknowledged. During the last 15 years of its existence of the college has considerably grown now having three major facilities, namely, Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Science and Faculty of Commerce, offering a number of subjects at the Honours and Subsidiary levels creating to the needs of about more than 2000 students. In addition, the college has recently started study centres in the distance learning mode under the aegis of Netaji Subhas Open University and Indira Gandhi National Open University which will help students who have no access to formal courses. The cordial relation existing among teachers, students , administrative, laboratory and others supporting staffs appears to be a commendable feature of this institution, which I hold, has helped the growth of the college and will be conducive to its future expansion and diversification. I come to learn that Sammilani Mahavidyalaya has been awarded B grade by the NAAC. I thank all teachers, students, supporting staffs and the Governing Body for this achievement.

I am also happy to note that the progress and advancement of the college during the last few years. However, I would like to bring to the kind notice of all concerned that there is no scope for complacency. Today the quality of education is a matter of serious concern in our country. And quality comes at a cost. Constant review, scrutiny, critical analysis and questioning with a continuous feedback to the system are essential and the need of the hour to improve quality, which we can ill afford to neglect. Let us also remember that the progress raising question is more important than the answer. I would request all and , in particular, the teachers to ponder over this issue in respect of teaching, research and outreach activity of the college.

Let me, finally,on this occasion share with all teachers , students and other members of Sammilani Mahavidyalaya the wisdom of an ancient Chinese saying , ( which I quite open tell my students ) “He who asks questions is a full for a minute : he who does not remain a fool forever”. Is not our choice obvious.

Sammilani Mahavidyalaya is situated in a quiet and picturesque surroundings far from the din and bustle of the city, the Mahavidyalaya is in the vicinity of Baghajatin Railway Station and the E.M. Byepass. At present, the college is housed in a planned, well-equiped and spacious three storied building with a sparawling compound. It is in the process of completing the other proposed blocks like administrative building, examination hall-cum-auditorium, students hostels, separate computer centre.