University of Calcutta facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
University of Calcutta

Seal of the University of Calcutta
Other name	Calcutta University
Motto	Advancement of Learning
Type	Public
Established	24 January 1857; 168 years ago (1857-01-24)
Founder	List Alexander Duff Sir Charles Wood Maharaja Maheshwar Singh Bahadur Fredrick John
Accreditation	NAAC
Academic affiliations	UGC AIU ACU
Budget	₹337 crore (US$57 million) (FY2021–22 est.)
Chancellor	Governor of West Bengal
Vice-Chancellor	Santa Datta (De) (acting)
Academic staff	1,255 (2023)
Students	17,881 (2023)
Undergraduates	2,190 (2023)
Postgraduates	12,012 (2023)
Doctoral students	3,679 (2023)
Location	Kolkata , West Bengal , India 22°34′30″N 88°21′46″E / 22.57500°N 88.36278°E / 22.57500; 88.36278
Campus	Large city
Acronym	CU
Newspaper	Calcutta Review

The University of Calcutta (also called Calcutta University or CU) is a public university in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. It was started on January 24, 1857. This makes it the oldest university of its kind in the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia.

Today, the university works with 151 colleges and 16 institutes in and around Kolkata. When it first began, its reach was much larger, from Kabul to Myanmar. In India, it is known as a "Five-Star University" and has an "A" grade from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC).

The university has fourteen campuses across Kolkata and its nearby areas. Many famous people have studied or taught here. These include several heads of state, government leaders, artists, and six Nobel Prize winners. Some Nobel laureates connected to CU are Ronald Ross, Rabindranath Tagore, C. V. Raman, Amartya Sen, and Abhijit Banerjee.

The University of Calcutta is also part of the United Nations Academic Impact program.

History of Calcutta University

The idea for a university in Calcutta, like London University, was first suggested by Fredrick John. He was the education secretary to the British Government in India. In 1854, the East India Company agreed to set up universities in Calcutta, Madras, and Bombay.

The University of Calcutta in the late 1800s, by Francis Frith.

The Calcutta University Act became law on January 24, 1857. A group of 41 members was formed to make decisions for the university. Maharaja Maheshwar Singh Bahadur of Darbhanga gave the land for the university. When it first opened, the university covered a huge area, from Kabul to Rangoon and Ceylon. This was the largest area for any Indian university at the time.

Calcutta University was the first university east of Suez to teach European classics, English literature, and both European and Indian philosophy. The first medical school in British India, the Calcutta Medical College, joined the university in 1857. The first college for women in India, Bethune College, is also connected to this university.

Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay and Joddu Nath Bose were the first students to graduate in 1858. Later, Kadambini Ganguly and Chandramukhi Basu became the first Indian women to graduate in 1882. The first leader of the university was Governor General Lord Canning. Ashutosh Mukherjee served as vice-chancellor for many years, from 1906 to 1914 and again from 1921 to 1923.

Calcutta Medical College in 1910.

At first, the university only approved colleges and held exams. Teaching happened in colleges like Presidency College and Scottish Church College. Because there wasn't enough space, exams were held in the Kolkata Town Hall and in tents in the Maidan park.

In 1866, money was given to build a new university building on College Street. This building, called Senate House, opened in 1873. It had rooms for meetings, offices, and exam halls. In 1904, the university started offering postgraduate teaching and research. This meant more students and more space was needed.

A second building, the Darbhanga Building, was built in 1912 with a large donation from Maharaja Maheshwar Singh Bahadur. This building housed the University Law College. Another building, the Asutosh Building, opened in 1926. It was named after Ashutosh Mukherjee. Between 1912 and 1914, two lawyers, Taraknath Palit and Rash Behari Ghosh, donated a lot of money. This helped create the University College of Science.

Senate Hall of University of Calcutta, early 1910s.

After India's Independence

Before India was divided, many colleges from what is now Bangladesh were part of the university. After India became independent, the government passed a new law for the university in 1951. This law made the university's structure more democratic.

The university grew, and the old Senate House was no longer big enough. In 1957, for the university's 100th year, it received a large grant. This money helped build the Centenary Building on the College Street campus. The Economics Department also got its own building in 1958.

The University of Calcutta building in College Street.

In 1968, the Centenary Building opened where the old Senate House used to be. It now holds the Central Library, a museum, an auditorium, and many university offices. By the mid-1970s, Calcutta University became one of the biggest universities in the world. It had 13 colleges directly under its control and over 150 affiliated colleges.

In 2001, the university received a "Five-Star" rating from the NAAC. In 2009 and 2017, it received the highest 'A' grade. In 2019, the university's main library and 40 other libraries were opened to the public. They have over one million books and many journals and old writings.

University Seal

The university's seal has changed several times since 1857. The first change happened when the British Crown took control of India from the East India Company. Later seals were introduced in the 1930s. The current seal is a changed version of the sixth seal. The university's motto, Advancement of Learning (meaning "making learning better"), has stayed the same on all the seals.

Evolution of seals

University Campuses

Ashutosh Building at the College Street campus

Rajabazar Campus, Kolkata

Sahid Khudiram Siksha Prangan or Alipore campus.

Hazra Campus, Kolkata

Technology Campus, Salt Lake

The University of Calcutta has 14 campuses across Kolkata and its suburbs. These campuses are called Sikhsa Prangan, which means "education premises."

Main Campuses

• Asutosh Siksha Prangan: This is the main campus on College Street. It handles administrative work and has arts and language departments, the central library, and a museum.
• Rashbehari Siksha Prangan: Also known as Rajabazar Science College, this campus is for science and technology subjects. It has departments like physics, chemistry, and psychology.
• Taraknath Palit Siksha Prangan: Located in Ballygunge, this campus focuses on subjects like agriculture, botany, zoology, and geology.
• Sahid Khudiram Siksha Prangan: Known as Alipore Campus, this is where humanities subjects are taught. Departments include history, archaeology, and political science.
• Technology Campus: This is the newest campus. It brings together engineering and technical departments like computer science and information technology.

How the University is Run

Commemorative Postal Stamp, 1957.

The university is managed by a group of officers. These include the vice-chancellor and other leaders who handle academics and finances. They make sure the university and its colleges run smoothly. The university gets money from the University Grants Commission, the Government of West Bengal, and other groups. It also earns money from fees and publications.

University's Reach Over Time

Long ago, the University of Calcutta covered a very large area in British India. Colleges from places like Lahore and Rangoon (now Yangon) were part of it. Even schools in cities like Rawalpindi and Lucknow sent students for its entrance exams.

Over time, as new universities were started in other regions, Calcutta University's area became smaller. By 1907, many colleges in other parts of India were no longer connected to it. After India was divided in 1947, colleges in East Bengal (now Bangladesh) and Assam also became part of new universities.

Today, 151 colleges and 22 institutes in West Bengal are connected to the university. Some of these colleges include:

Departments and Study Areas

The university has 60 departments grouped into seven main areas:

• Arts
• Commerce, Social Welfare, and Business Management
• Education, Journalism, and Library Science
• Engineering and Technology
• Fine Arts, Music, and Home Science
• Law
• Science

There is also an Institute of Agricultural Science with six departments. This institute was started to provide education and research in farming. The Faculty of Law, known as Hazra Law College, was set up in 1909. Many famous people, like Rajendra Prasad, have been part of its history.

How to Join and Study

Getting Admitted to Courses

For most undergraduate courses (like BA, B.Com., and BSc), you can apply based on your high school exam results. Students are chosen based on their marks and how many spots are open. Some departments might also have their own entrance exams. You can apply within five years of finishing your high school exams.

For engineering courses, admission depends on your score in the West Bengal Joint Entrance Examination (WBJEE). For postgraduate and doctoral degrees, you usually need to take an entrance exam given by the university or a national exam.

Research Opportunities

Notable scientists from the University of Calcutta. Seated (L to R): Meghnad Saha, Jagadish Chandra Bose, Jnan Chandra Ghosh. Standing (L to R): Snehamoy Dutt, Satyendranath Bose, Debendra Mohan Bose, NR Sen, Jnanendra Nath Mukherjee, N C Nag.

Undergraduate students can join three- or four-year engineering programs. Students pick their main subject when they start. Most programs are yearly, but some are semester-based. Many departments offer master's programs that last one or more years.

The university also has many research centers and doctoral programs. The Center for Research in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (CRNN) is a large research center at the Technology Campus. The university has 18 research centers, many teachers, and thousands of postgraduate students.

University Central Library viewed from College Square.

University Libraries

The main library at the Asutosh Siksha Prangan started around the 1870s. Besides the main library, there are 39 departmental libraries and other campus libraries. Students from colleges connected to the university can also use the central library. The university library has over one million books and many journals, old writings, and other valuable collections.

Publishing House

The university has its own publishing house called University Press and Publications. It also has a book depot. This house publishes textbooks, journals, and exam papers for the university. It also publishes The Calcutta Review, which is one of the oldest university journals in Asia. This journal has been published twice a year since 1913.

University Rankings

The University of Calcutta is well-known around the world. In 2023, it was ranked among the top universities globally by QS World University Rankings. It was also ranked 181st in Asia. Times Higher Education World University Rankings placed it among the top universities in the world in 2023.

In India, the university was ranked 11th overall by the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) in 2021. It was also ranked 4th among all universities in India.

Special Recognition

In 2001, the University of Calcutta was given "Five-Star" status. This was by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC). In 2009 and 2017, NAAC gave it their highest 'A' grade. The University Grants Commission also called it a "University with Potential for Excellence" in 2005.

The university's Manuscript Library is a "Manuscript Conservation Centre." This means it helps protect old handwritten documents. The university has the most students who pass the National Eligibility Test. This test helps students get scholarships for research from the Government of India.

Student Life at CU

The university has a ground and a tent in Maidan where students play various sports. They organize tournaments for football, archery, basketball, and hockey. The university also has a rowing club that started in 1983.

The Calcutta University Students' Union plans social and cultural events. These include blood donation drives, environmental programs, and celebrations like Saraswati puja.

Many of the colleges connected to the university have their own student hostels (dormitories). The university itself has 17 hostels. Eight of these are for women students.

University Song

In 1938, the vice-chancellor, Syama Prasad Mookerjee, asked Rabindranath Tagore to write a song for the university. Rabindranath wrote two songs. One of them, "Cholo Jai, Cholo Jai" (meaning "Let's go, let's go"), was chosen. It was sung by students on the university's foundation day in 1937. Later, the other song, "Subho Karmapathe Dharo Nirvayo Gaan" (meaning "Take up fearless song on the path of good deeds"), became the new university song.

Famous People from Calcutta University

The University of Calcutta has educated many famous scientists, engineers, world leaders, and teachers. As the oldest university in Bengal and India, it attracts students from all walks of life.

Nobel Prize Winners

Several Nobel laureates have either studied or worked here. They include:

• Rabindranath Tagore
• Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman
• Ronald Ross
• Amartya Sen
• Abhijit Banerjee

Other Notable Alumni

• Artists and Writers: Academy Award-winning director Satyajit Ray and the composer of India's national song, Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay.
• Business Leaders: Sir Rajen Mookerjee, Rama Prasad Goenka, Lakshmi Mittal, and Aditya Birla.
• Scientists and Doctors: Jagadish Chandra Bose, Prafulla Chandra Ray, Meghnad Saha, Satyendra Nath Bose, and Asima Chatterjee.
• Political Leaders:
  • Fatima Jinnah, a founder of Pakistan, studied dentistry.
  • Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, a nationalist leader.
  • Many presidents of the Indian National Congress, like Womesh Chandra Bonnerjee.
  • Two presidents of India: Rajendra Prasad (studied) and Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan (taught).
  • Pranab Mukherjee, who both studied and taught at colleges connected to the university.
  • Former vice president of India, Mohammad Hamid Ansari.
  • Many chief ministers of West Bengal and other Indian states.
  • Several chief justices of the Supreme Court of India.
• International Leaders:
  • Four presidents of Bangladesh.
  • Three prime ministers of Pakistan.
  • The first president of Nepal, Ram Baran Yadav.
  • The first democratically elected prime minister of Nepal, Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala.

See also

In Spanish: Universidad de Calcuta para niños