Foundation year of Calcutta University

Can you tell me in which year was the Calcutta University founded? Also tell me about the history of Calcutta University and also provide me the contact detail of Calcutta University as well?

[Shaleen]

The Court of Directors of the East India Company sent a dispatch in July, 1854 to the Governor-General of India in Council, suggesting the establishment of the Universities of Calcutta, Madras and Bombay. In pursuance of that dispatch, the University of Calcutta was founded on January 24, 1857.

The Calcutta University Act came into force on 24 January 1857 and a 41-member Senate was formed as the policy making body of the university. When the university was first established it had a catchments area covering the area from Lahore to Rangoon (now in Myanmar) — the largest of any Indian university.

The first Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor of the Calcutta University were Governor General Lord Canning and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Sir James William Colvile, respectively. In 1858, Joddu Nath Bose and Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay became the first graduates of the university

It is recognized as one of the most prestigious universities in the world. It was ranked 401+ in the QS World University Rankings of 2011 and 43 in the QS University Rankings for Asia in 2012. In India, it was ranked 2 by the India Today Top India Universities of 2012 and 2013 and 2014.

It benefit from both national and international repute:

In 2001 it was awarded the status of a ‘five star university’ by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council.

On 8 December 2005, the Indian University Grants Commission declared it as a ‘‘University with Potential for Excellence’’.

The Manuscript Library at the university was designated as a Manuscript Conservation Centre under the National Mission for Manuscripts, which was established in 2003.

On 5 January 2010, the National Assessment and Accreditation Council awarded its highest grade of 'A' to the university

It has a total of 14 campuses spread over the city of Kolkata and its suburbs. The major campuses are the Central Campus (Ashutosh Shiksha Prangan) in College Street, Rashbehari Shiksha Prangan in Rajabazar, Taraknath Palit Shiksha Prangan in Ballygunge and Sahid Khudiram Siksha Prangan in Alipore.

Other campuses include the Hazra Road Campus, the University Press and Book Depot, the B. T. Road Campus, the Viharilal College of Home Science Campus, the University Health Service, the Haringhata Campus, the Dhakuria Lakes (University Rowing Club) and the University Ground and Tent at Maidan

It has 65 departments organized into 8 faculties: agriculture; arts; commerce; social welfare & business management; education, journalism and library science; engineering & technology; fine arts, music and home science; law and science

Contact Detail:
University Of Calcutta
Senate House, 87/1, College Street, Kolkata, West Bengal 700073