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{{Short description|University in Guwahati, India}}
{{Copy edit|date=October 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2016}}
{{Infobox university
| image = Cotton University logo.png
| image_size = 150px
| image_upright = 0.8
| name = Cotton University
| motto = ''Apramattena Veddhavyam''
| mottoeng = Knowledge in any field
| established = {{Start date and age|df=yes|paren=yes|1901}}
| type = [[Public university|Public]]
| endowment =
| chairman =
| chancellor = [[Governor of Assam]]
| vice_chancellor = Prof. Bhabesh Chandra Goswami<ref>{{cite web|title=Vice Chancellor|url=http://cottonuniversity.ac.in/vc.php|publisher=Cotton University|access-date=1 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170801234843/http://cottonuniversity.ac.in/vc.php|archive-date=1 August 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| president =
| city = [[Guwahati]]
| state = [[Assam]]
| country = [[India]]
| coor = {{coord|26.1868|91.7476|type:edu_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| campus = [[urban area|urban]]
| colors = Orange, Blue, Green {{color box|orange}}{{color box|skyblue}}{{color box|green}}
| publictransit =
| undergrad =
| postgrad =
| staff =
| website = {{URL| http://cottonuniversity.ac.in/}}
| affiliations = [[University Grants Commission (India)|UGC]]
| footnotes =
| logo =
}}
'''Cotton University''' (formerly known as ''Cotton College'') is a public [[state university (India)|state university]] located in [[Guwahati]], [[Assam]], [[India]]. It was established in 2017 by the provisions of an Act enacted by [[Assam Legislative Assembly]] to merge the Cotton College State University and Cotton College. The university made its way to become one of the top 200 institutions of the country by figuring in the band of 150–200 in the [[National Institutional Ranking Framework]] rank list in May 2020.

Cotton College was established in 1901 by [[Sir Henry Stedman Cotton]], the Chief Commissioner of the erstwhile [[British Raj|British]] province of Assam. It had been the oldest institute of higher education in Assam, and the whole [[Northeast India]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Cotton College Merges with Cotton State University » Northeast Today |url=https://www.northeasttoday.in/cotton-college-merges-with-cotton-state-university/ |access-date=6 June 2018 |work=Northeast Today |date=1 June 2017}}</ref>

It became the constituent college of [[Gauhati University]] in 1948, and then that of the Cotton College State University, when Cotton College State University was established by an Act (Act XIX of 2011) of the Assam Government in 2011. The Cotton University Act, 2017 was made to resolve the problems between the college and the university.<ref name="ndtv">{{cite news |last1=Singh |first1=A. |title=Assam Assembly Passes The Cotton University Act 2017: Cotton College To Merge With Cotton College State University |url=https://www.ndtv.com/education/assam-assembly-passes-the-cotton-university-act-2017-cotton-college-to-merge-with-cotton-college-sta-1667587 |access-date=6 June 2018 |work=NDTV.com |date=8 March 2018}}</ref>

== History ==

[[File:Cotton College , Guwahati , Assam, India.jpg|thumb|Main structure of the University]]
[[File:Assam Cotton College.jpg|thumb|A structure at Cotton University]]
Under public demand, Manick Chandra wrote a letter in 1899 to the British government to open a college in Guwahati, as Assam was the only province without a college and Guwahati was most convenient for the people. In response, [[Sir Henry Stedman Cotton]], K.C.S.I., the then Chief Commissioner of Assam, announced on 3 November 1899 that a college would be opened in Guwahati. The name decided by the public, the Cotton College, was inaugurated on 27 May 1901 by Cotton himself. It was affiliated to the [[Calcutta University]].<ref name="shillong">{{cite news |title=Assam’s Cotton College becomes Cotton University |url=http://www.theshillongtimes.com/2017/06/02/assams-cotton-college-becomes-cotton-university/ |access-date=6 June 2018 |work=The Shillong Times |date=2 June 2017}}</ref> The college was started with five professors, which included Frederick William Sudmerson, the first principal of the college, and 39 students.

The college was the centre of the freedom movement and the literary and cultural movements of the state to build the identity of Assam as a distinct integral component of India. As Gauhati University was established in 1948, the college was affiliated to it and became its constituent college.<ref name="gos">{{cite news |last1=Goswami |first1=P. |title=Cotton College to Cotton University – Emotions and Debates |url=https://www.timesofassam.com/headlines/cotton-college-to-cotton-university-emotions-and-debates/ |access-date=6 June 2018 |work=Times of Assam |date=21 July 2011}}</ref> It was declared as Special Heritage College in 2015.<ref name="shillong"/>

On 16 October 1992, the college was declared as a center of excellence,<ref>{{Cite book|last=L. Cremonini, L., Paivandi, S. and Joshi, K.M.|title=Mergers in Higher Education: Practices and Policies|publisher=Studera Press|year=2019|isbn=9789385883941|pages=115}}</ref> an occasion celebrated in a solemn ceremony with [[Shankar Dayal Sharma]], the then [[President of India]]. It officially became a post-graduate college.<ref name="gos"/>

Cotton College celebrated its centennial with a year-long program from 27 May 2001 to 26 May 2002. [[Krishan Kant]], the then [[Vice President of India]] graced the closing ceremony. [[India Post]] issued a ₹ 4.00 commemorative postage stamp on 25 May 2002, as part of the centenary celebration.

===Cotton College State University===

Cotton College State University was created via an Act of the Government of Assam (Act XIX of 2011). This act received the assent of the Governor of Assam on 3 September 2011, and was notified via the [[Assam Gazette]] on 5 September 2011. The vision of this new University is to be a world-class one, excelling in both teaching and research, developing knowledge and skills with an emphasis on this part of our country, providing broad-based education to students to take on the challenges of tomorrow via modern curricula, learning and assessment methods, upholding the highest ethical standards, and providing a clean, efficient and transparent administration. The Cotton College became its constituent college.<ref>{{Cite web|title = UGC team to visit Cotton University|url = http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/ugc-team-to-visit-cotton-university-115022701260_1.html|access-date = 12 October 2015}}</ref>

The election to the university's first Academic Council and University Court was held on 22 February 2013 with three and five members, respectively.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Cotton College State University elections – Indian Express|url = http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/cotton-college-state-university-elections/1079322/|website = archive.indianexpress.com|access-date = 12 October 2015}}</ref>

===Cotton University===

There had been conflicts between the university and the college mainly on the custody of properties. The [[Assam Legislative Assembly]] made an amendment in 2015 that the university and the college run as separate institutes.<ref name="karma">{{cite news |last1=Karmakar |first1=S. |title=What's in a name? A lot if it's Cotton |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/1170309/jsp/northeast/story_139673.jsp |access-date=6 June 2018 |work=The Telegraph |date=8 March 2017}}</ref> The bill called The Cotton University Act, 2017 was passed by the Assam Legislative Assembly on 2 March 2017 to resolve the problems.<ref name=ndtv/> By this act, the university and the college would be completely merged.<ref name="karma"/> Upon enforcement, the university was renamed to Cotton University.<ref>{{cite web|title=Cotton University|url=http://cottonuniversity.ac.in/|publisher=Cotton University|access-date=2 July 2017}}</ref> By ordinance, the Governor of Assam, [[Banwarilal Purohit]] became the Chancellor, who appointed Bhabesh Chandra Goswami as the first Vice Chancellor in July 2017.<ref>{{cite news |title=Prof Bhabesh Chandra Goswami is the new Cotton University VC |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/prof-bhabesh-chandra-goswami-is-the-new-cotton-university-vc/1104799 |access-date=6 June 2018 |work=www.outlookindia.com/ |date=12 July 2017}}</ref>

==Organisation and administration ==
===Faculties and Centres===
# Faculty of Languages, Literature and Linguistics
# Faculty of Physical, Chemical and Mathematical Sciences
# Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
# Faculty of Earth Sciences
# Faculty of Life Sciences
# Centre for Women's Studies

== Academics ==
===Academic programmes ===
====HSSLC====
Keeping the tradition of the erstwhile Cotton College, courses leading to [[Higher Secondary School Certificate|Higher Secondary School Leaving Certificate]] is possible in the Arts and Science streams. This qualification is awarded upon successful completion of two years of study followed by relevant examinations under Assam Higher Secondary Educational Council.

====Bachelors degrees====
[[Bachelor of Arts]], [[Bachelor of Science]], [[Bachelor of Computer Application]], [[Bachelor of Liberal Arts]], [[Bachelor of Mass Communication and Journalism]] and [[Bachelor of Science (Hons) Biotechnology]] graduate degrees are offered. The degrees are awarded upon successful completion of three years of study followed by relevant examinations under Cotton University.

====Masters degrees====
Postgraduate programmes leading to the degrees of [[Master of Arts]], [[Master of Science]], [[Master of Library and Information Science]], [[Master of Law]] and [[Master in Computer Application]] are offered. The degrees are awarded upon successful completion of two years of study followed by relevant examinations under Cotton University. Admission is done through a national level entrance examination.

===Doctoral programme===
The degree of [[Doctor of Philosophy]] (PhD) is offered in all postgraduate departments. Admission is open in June/July. Selection is based on written test and a viva voce. UGC/CSIR JRF/NET/SET qualified candidates are exempted from written test.

==Accreditation==
[[File:Cotton College Guwahati 2002 stamp of India.jpg|thumb|A 2002 stamp dedicated to Cotton University]]
This institution has been accredited with cumulative grade point average of 3.76 on four point and grade A++ on 5 November 2016 by the 18th SC executive committee of the [[National Assessment and Accreditation Council]]. At the time, the cumulative grade point average score was the third highest among colleges in India.<ref>{{cite news |title=Cotton College Declared as 3rd Best College in India » Northeast Today |url=https://www.northeasttoday.in/cotton-college-declared-as-3rd-best-college-in-india/ |access-date=6 June 2018 |work=Northeast Today |date=7 November 2016}}</ref>

==Student life==
===Hostels===
# Krishna Kanta Handique Post Graduate Boys' Hostel (established in 1901; capacity 75 students in 22 rooms)
# Swahid [[Muzammil Haque]] Boys' Hostel (established in 1902; capacity 64 students in 20 rooms)
# Rajanikanta Bordoloi Boys' Hostel (established in 1910; capacity 85 students in 30 rooms)
# Swahid Ranjit Barpujari Boys' Hostel (established in 1913; capacity 93 students in 33 rooms)
# Anundo Ram Barooah Boys' Hostel (established in 1913; capacity 99 students in 33 rooms)
# Seetanath Brahma Chaudhury Boys' Hostel (established in 1929; capacity 90 students in 25 rooms)
# Mahendra Nath Deka Phukan Boys' Hostel (established in 1955; capacity 110 students in 28 rooms)
# Padmashree Nalini Bala Devi Girls' Hostel (established in 1950; capacity 112 students in 25 rooms)
# Swahid Kanaklata Girls' Hostel (established in 1971; capacity 105 students in 21 rooms)
# Dr. Kamala Roy Girls' Hostel (established in 2001; capacity 60 students in 25 rooms)

== Notable alumni and faculty==
===Noted alumni===
{{alumni|date=March 2018}}

*[[Amulya Barua]], Assamese Poet
*[[Nayandeep Deka Baruah]],<ref>[http://www.tezu.ernet.in/dmaths/people/faculty-pages/ndb-web2016.pdf Curriculum Vitae]. tezu.ernet.in</ref> Indian mathematician and professor
*[[Bhupen Hazarika]], [[Bharat Ratna]], Famous playback singer
*[[Birendra Kumar Bhattacharya]], Indian Writer
*[[Surya Kumar Bhuyan]], former president of [[Asam Sahitya Sabha|Asom Sahitya Sabha]]
*[[Kopil Bora]], Assamese Actor
*[[Gopinath Bordoloi]], [[Bharat Ratna]], Former Chief Minister of Assam
*[[Homen Borgohain]], Indian writer
*[[Nirupama Borgohain]], Indian Journalist
*[[Parineeta Borthakur]], Assamese Actress
*[[Upendranath Brahma]], former president of the [[All Bodo Students' Union]].
*[[Ambika Charan Choudhury]], Indian litterateur, historian and activist
*[[Moinul Hoque Choudhury]], Indian politician
*[[Rita Chowdhury]], Indian Writer
*[[Ardhendu Kumar Dey]], Indian politician
*[[Lalit Kumar Doley]], Indian politician
*[[Akhil Gogoi]], Peasant leader and MLA, Sibsagar, Assam
*[[Ranjan Gogoi]], 46th Chief Justice of India
*[[Bhupendra Nath Goswami]],Indian meteorologist
*[[Indira Goswami]], Indian writer
*[[Jitendra Nath Goswami]], Indian scientist
*[[Parbati Kumar Goswami]], Judge of India
*[[Krishna Kanta Handique]], Sanskrit scholar
*[[Satish Chandra Kakati]], ex-editor of [[The Assam Tribune]]
*[[Gauri Shankar Kalita]], Journalist
*[[Kamalendu Deb Krori]], Indian physicist
*[[Motiur Rohman Mondal]], Indian politician and physician
*[[Arupa Kalita Patangia]], Indian Novelist
*[[Kalpana Patowary]], playback and folk singer (Bhojpuri and others)
*[[Anuradha Sharma Pujari]], Assamese journalist and author
*[[Debapratim Purkayastha]], Indian academic
*[[Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa]], former governor of Arunachal Pradesh
*[[Muhammed Saadulah]], Prime Minister of [[Assam Province]]
*[[Anupam Saikia]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iitg.ac.in/a.saikia/Education.htm|title=Education|website=www.iitg.ac.in}}</ref> Indian mathematician.
*[[Bhabendra Nath Saikia]], Indian film director, famous writer
*[[Hiteswar Saikia]], former Chief Minister of Assam
*[[Himanta Biswa Sarma]], Chief Minister Of Assam
*[[Sarat Chandra Sinha]], former Chief Minister of Assam
*[[Sonaram Sutiya]], scholar, freedom fighter and educationist
*[[Jerifa Wahid]], Actress

===List of principals===
The institute had 50 principals from 1901 till 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.cottoncollege.org.in/index_page.asp?slno=13 |title=Principals of Cotton College |work=cottoncollege.org.in |access-date=22 March 2012}}</ref>
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
{| class="wikitable" width=80%
|-
! No.
! Principal
! Tenure
|-
| 1
| F.W. Sudmersen
| 1901–1926
|-
| 2
| D. Thomson
| 1926–1933
|-
| 3
| A.E. Brown
| 1933–1934
|-
| 4
| D.E. Roberts
| 1934–1937
|-
| 5
| S.C. Roy
| 1937–1940
|-
| 6
| B.C. Sengupta
| 1940–1942
|-
| 7
| H.N. Sen
| 1942–1943
|-
| 8
| Ankushjyoti Kalita
| 1943
|-
| 9
| S.N. Sen
| 1943–1944
|-
| 10
| R.R. Thomas
| 1945–1946
|-
| 11
| [[Surya Kumar Bhuyan|S.K. Bhuyan]]
| 1946
|-
| 12
| P.C. Sanyal
| 1946–1947
|-
| 13
| S.M. Mahibullah
| 1947
|-
| 14
| B.Kalita
| 1993 –
|-
| 15
| U.K. Goswami
| 1949
|-
| 16
| S.N. Chakravarty
| 1949–1952
|-
| 17
| H.C. Bhuyan
| 1952–1954
|-
| 18
| U.K. Dutta
| 1954–1958
|-
| 19
| H.C. Goswami
| 1958–1963
|-
| 20
| H.K. Barpujari
| 1963
|-
| 21
| N. Islam
| 1963–1969
|-
| 22
| K. Roy
| 1969
|-
| 23
| p.c. Goswami
| 1969–1970
|-
| 24
| Mada Mitra
| 1970–1972
|-
| 25
| Abdul Jalil
| 1972 – 1974
|-
| 26
| Manash Kumar Baishya
| 1996 –
|-
|}
{{col-2}}
{| class="wikitable" width=80%
|-
!S.No. !!Name !! Tenure
|-
|27.||A. Sarma||1975
|-
|28.||A. Ali||1975–1979
|-
|29.||A. Latif||1979
|-
|30.||G.C. Deka||1979–1986
|-
|31.||R.K. Das||1986–1987
|-
|32.||K.D. Krori||1987–1991
|-
|33.||A.K. Goswami||1991–1993
|-
|34.||B.C. Choudhury||1993–1994
|-
|35.||M.C. Ghose||1994–1995, 1995–1996 (dean)
|-
|36.||T. Mahanta||1996–1997 (dean)
|-
|37.||J. Datta||1 January 1998 – 31 January 1998 (dean)
|-
|38.||K.C. Paul||1 February 1998 – 30 June 1998 (dean)
|-
|39.||P. Kakati||1 July 1998 – 30 November 1998 (dean)
|-
|40.||D.K. Kakati||1 December 1998 – 31 May 1999 (dean)
|-
|41.||M. Dev Choudhury||1 June 1999 – 29 February 2000 (dean)
|-
|42.||D.K. Barua||1 March 2000 – 7 March 2000 (dean), 8 March 2000 – 7 November 2000(Principal)
|-
|43.||R. Thakuria||8 November 2000 – 31 December 2002
|-
|44.||J. Medhi||1 January 2003 – 31 August 2003
|-
|45.||U.A. Bharali||1 September 2003 – 31 August 2006
|-
|46.||T. Sircar||1 September 2006 – 8 January 2007
|-
|47.||I.K Bhattacharyya||9 January 2007 to 31 October 2011
|-
|48.||S. Barua||1 November 2011 – 30 November 2011
|-
|49.||Jamuna Sharma Choudhury||1 December 2011 – 31 December 2011
|-
|50.||Prasanta Kumar Bordoloi||1 January 2012 – 17 March 2012
|-
|51.||Nirada Devi||18 March 2012 – 2017
|}
{{col-end}}

== References ==
{{Commons category|Cotton University}}
{{Reflist}}

{{Universities in Assam}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cotton University| ]]
[[Category:Universities in Assam]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges in Guwahati]]
[[Category:1901 establishments in India]]
[[Category:Academic institutions associated with the Bengal Renaissance]]
[[Category:Educational institutions established in 1901]]
[[Category:State universities in India]]

Cotton University - Revision history

WikiDwarfBOT: Cleanup: Information added.

>Miniapolis: Added {{Copy edit}} tag