Heritage Universities of India - Part 1

In 2013, the Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) decided to grant a ‘special heritage’ status to universities that have completed 100 years. The idea is to promote excellence in education and recognise the age-old legacy of our educational institutes. The heritage status will be accompanied by a grant of up to Rs 60 crores, along with an annual grant.

It remains to be seen if the new HRD minister Smriti Zubin Irani will still go ahead with it. We certainly think it is a bright idea and heritage institutes should be preserved.

Shiskha.com takes a look at seven such heritage universities (including deemed universities) that should make it to the list.

 

1. Aliah University

Location: Salt Lake, Kolkata

Established: 1781 (as Aliya Madrasah)

Previously known as Mohammedan College of Calcutta (popularly called Calcutta Madrasah), this 229-year old educational and cultural institution received autonomous university status in 2008 for uplifting the education of Muslim community.

Chiefly established for the study of Arabic, Persian languages and Muslim Law, today the varsity offers multiple UG and PG programs such as MTech, MCA, MBA, MA, MSc and PhD in wide domains including Engineering, Arts and Science.

Interesting fact: The varsity still teaches some of its traditional, cultural and theological courses founded at the time of its inception in 1781.

 

2. Senate of Serampore College (University) 1818

Location: Serampore, Hoolgly, West Bengal

Established:  1818

 

The college was established about 195 years ago for the study of theological courses (Christianity), eastern literature and European science. At present, it has two wings: Arts, Science and Commerce (ASC) department, and Theology departments. While the college confers their own degrees in theological courses, the ASC department is affiliated to University of Calcutta.

Interesting fact: Serampore was granted the status of university in 1829, making it India’s first institution to have the status of a university.

 

3. Deccan College Post-Graduate and Research Institute

Location:  Pune

Established:  1821 (as Hindoo College)

 

This third-oldest educational institution in India was originally run as a centre for UG and PG studies, mostly offering western education. Today the Deccan College is known for its outstanding research in Ancient Indian History, Culture and Archaeology, Linguistics, Medieval and Maratha History, Sociology-Anthropology and Sanskrit Studies and has produced several eminent scholars.

It was incorporated by the University of Pune in 1948, becoming one of its recognized institutions. The government granted the deemed university status on March 5, 1990.

Interesting fact: The college was temporarily shut down in 1934 (for five years) due to lack of funding, but was reopened on August 17, 1939, on orders of Bombay High Court.

 

4. Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee

Location: Roorkee, Uttarakhand

Established: 1847

The Roorkee College is the first engineering college in the British Empire. In 1949, it became the first engineering university of Independent India. A constant top-ranked varsity of the country, in 2001, it was declared an institute of national importance, changing its status from University of Roorkee to IIT, Roorkee.

IIT Roorkee has 18 academic departments covering Engineering, Applied Sciences, Humanities & Social Sciences and Management programs with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.

Interesting fact: Initially, the college had engineers’ class only for Europeans, upper subordinate class for Europeans and Indians and lower subordinate class for Indians only.

 

5. University of Mumbai

Location: Mumbai

Established: 1857

This 156-year old premier university of India was known as University of Bombay till 1996.

Initially, the university concentrated its efforts on controlling teaching at UG level and in conducting examinations. Today, it has two campuses, two post-graduate centres, 354 affiliated colleges and 36 Departments. It has established its name in industrial collaborations and runs various professional courses.

Interesting fact: The University’s Kalina campus has a rose garden where more than a hundred varieties of rose have been cultivated.

 

6. University of Madras

Location: Chennai

Established: 1857

The University of Madras is a collegiate university and has six campuses in the city Chepauk, Marina, Guindy, Taramani, Maduravoyal and Chetpet. It has more than 50 departments.

After 70,000 residents signed a petition demanding for higher education in Madras, the University Board (a precursor of the present Presidency College, Chennai) was formed in January 1840. University of Madras was finally incorporated in 1857 based on the model of the University of London.

Interesting fact: Madras University is the mother of almost all the old Universities of southern India. In 19^th century, the university progressed and expanded to span the whole of South India, giving birth to universities like Mysore University, Osmania University, Andhra University, Annamalai University, University of Kerala, and many more.

 

7. University of Calcutta

Location: Kolkata

Established: 1857

Popularly known as Calcutta University or CU, it is the first educational institute in South Asia to introduce multidisciplinary and secular courses. The university has 14 campuses spread across Kolkata and its suburbs. In 2013, India Today ranked CU at #3 in Top India Universities list. It was also ranked at #143 in the QS Asian University Rankings of 2012.

Interesting fact: CU has holds the distinction of opening the first women’s college in India – Bethune College (1879). It also is home to India’s first management institute The Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management (1953).

Other related articles:

Heritage Universities of India – Part 2

Top 25 Universities in India