Modern higher education in India has a rich legacy going as far back as 1817 in Calcutta. With the establishment of the Supreme Court in Calcutta in 1773, Hindus of Bengal became aware of the job prospects if they could learn the English language. David Hare, Radhakanta Deb and Babu Buddinath Mukherjee met at the home of the Chief Justice Sir Edward Hyde East in May 1816 to discuss the establishment of an institution of higher education in India. The ‘Hindu Collage’ was formally established on January 20, 1817 with a donation of Rupees 1 Lakh. The foundation committee of the college was headed by the great social reformer Raja Rammohan Roy. The control of the institution was vested in a body of two Governors, four Directors and twenty Scholars. The classes were held at first in a rented house but later in January 1818 the new ‘Hindu College’ was moved to ‘Feringhi Kamal Bose’s house’ that was located nearby. This was the beginning of formal higher education in English in India. The name of Hindu College was changed to Presidency College on October 21, 1853.
Filed under: Indian Education Tagged: | Babu Buddinath Mukherjee, Chief Justice Sir Edward Hyde East, David Hare, English language, Feringhi Kamal Bose, Higher Education, Hindu Collage, Hindus of Bengal, Presidency College, Radhakanta Deb, Raja Rammohan Roy, Supreme Court in Calcutta
