>BD2412: Update from filename change., replaced: ,S → , S

2021-02-07T06:21:24Z

Update from filename change., replaced: ,S → , S

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[[File:M N Saha, J C Bose, J C Ghosh, Snehamoy Dutt, S N Bose, D M Bose, N R Sen, J N Mukherjee, N C Nag.jpg|alt=|thumb|Notable scientists from the University of Calcutta, c. pre-1937.Seated (L to R): [[Meghnad Saha|M Saha]], [[Jagadish Chandra Bose|JC Bose]], [[Jnan Chandra Ghosh|JC Ghosh]].

Standing (L to R): Snehamoy Dutt, [[Satyendranath Bose|S Bose]], [[Debendra Mohan Bose|DM Bose]], NR Sen, [[Jnanendra Nath Mukherjee|JN Mukherjee]], NC Nag.]]
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2018}}
The '''history of the [[University of Calcutta]]''' began in 1857; it is the oldest of the modern universities in India.<ref name=bpedia>{{cite web| url = http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=University_of_Calcutta
| title = University of Calcutta
| access-date = 2016-04-13| last = Chakraborty| first = Rachana| work = [[Banglapedia]]| publisher = Asiatic Society of Bangladesh}}</ref>

==Pre-independence (1857–1947)==

The University of Calcutta was founded in 1857. Dr. Fredrick John, the education secretary to the then British Government in India, first tendered a proposal to the British Government in London for the establishment of a university in Calcutta, along the lines of [[University of London|London University]], but at that time the plan failed to obtain the necessary approval. However, a proposal to establish two universities, one in Calcutta and the other in Bombay was later accepted in 1854 and the necessary authority was given through [[Wood's despatch]]. 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 [[catchment area (human geography)|catchment area]] covering the area from [[Lahore]] to [[Yangon|Rangoon]] (now in [[Myanmar]])—the largest of any Indian university.<ref name=bpedia/>

On 30 January 1858, the Syndicate of the Calcutta University started functioning.<ref name="officialmemo" /> The first meeting of the Senate was held in the Council room of the [[Calcutta Medical College]]. A temporary office of the university was started in a few rented rooms in Camac Street. For several years afterwards the meetings of the Senate and Syndicate were held in a room of the [[Writers' building]]. 244 candidates appeared for the first Entrance Examination of the university, held in March 1857 in the [[Kolkata Town Hall|Town Hall of Calcutta]].
[[File:The_Calcutta_University_by_Francis_Frith.jpg|thumb|The Calcutta University by [[Francis Frith]]. c. 1850s to 1870s.]]
[[File:University of Calcutta 7388.JPG|thumb|250px|The main entrance of the university's Ashustosh Siksha Pragnan campus at [[College Street (Kolkata)|College Street]].|alt=]]The first Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor of the Calcutta University were Governor General [[Lord Canning]] and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, [[James William Colvile|Sir William Colvile]], respectively.<ref name=officialhist>{{cite web
|url=http://www.caluniv.ac.in/university_campuses/university_frame.htm
|title=Genesis and Historical Overview of the University
|access-date=2007-03-22
|work=University and its Campuses
|publisher=University of Calcutta
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070321035649/http://www.caluniv.ac.in/university_campuses/university_frame.htm
|archive-date=2007-03-21
|url-status=dead
}}</ref> In 1858, Joddu Nath Bose and [[Bankim Chandra Chatterjee]] became the first graduates of the university.<ref name=officialmemo>{{cite web
|url=http://www.caluniv.ac.in/university_campuses/university_frame.htm
|title=Memorable Events
|access-date=2007-03-22
|work=University and its Campuses
|publisher=University of Calcutta
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070321035649/http://www.caluniv.ac.in/university_campuses/university_frame.htm
|archive-date=2007-03-21
|url-status=dead
}}</ref>

From 1860 to 1890, [[Government Science College, Jabalpur]], the first science college of India, was affiliated to the University of Calcutta.

In 1862, a decision was taken by the Senate to construct for the university a building of its own. Accordingly, the historical Senate Hall was constructed at a cost of Rs. 2,52,221/- and inaugurated on 12 March 1873 by holding the convocation of the university.

The university library was also started soon after.

=== 1900-1947 ===
In 1914, the University College of Science or [[Rajabazar Science College]] was established. A centralized Post-Graduate system of teaching and research was started in 1917. The Asutoish building was opened in 1926. The [[Asutosh Museum of Indian Art]] started in 1937.

in 1937 when Dr. [[Syama Prasad Mukherjee|Syamaprasad Mookerjee]] was the Vice-Chancellor, he requested [[Rabindranath Tagore]] to compose a song to be adopted as the university song of the University of Calcutta. Tagore composed two songs instead of one. Later the second song, ''Subho Karmapathe Dharo Nirvayo Gaan'' was chosen to be the university song.

The [[Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics|Institute of Nuclear Physics]], the first of its kind in Asia, was founded under the leadership of Meghnad Saha in 1945.

== Post-independence (1947–present) ==
In the year 2001 the University of Calcutta was awarded with the 'Five Star' status in the first cycle of the University's accreditation by the [[National Assessment and Accreditation Council]] (NAAC). In 2009 and 2017, the [[National Assessment and Accreditation Council]] (NAAC) awarded its highest grade of 'A' to the University of Calcutta in 2nd & 3rd cycle of the University's accreditation.

In 2019, the university's central library and 40 departmental libraries were opened to the general public.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/cu-to-throw-open-its-libraries-to-public/articleshow/69065433.cms|title=Calcutta University to throw open its libraries to public {{!}} Kolkata News - Times of India|last=Basu|first=Somdatta|date=2019-04-27|website=The Times of India|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190824142428/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/cu-to-throw-open-its-libraries-to-public/articleshow/69065433.cms|archive-date=2019-08-24|url-status=live|access-date=2019-08-24}}</ref>

== Seals ==
[[File:Logo_of_Calcutta_University_-_a_diagram_in_The_History_of_the_Bengali_Language.png|alt=|left|thumb|The second seal of the university.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.caluniv.ac.in/about/Seals.html|title=Seals|website=University of Calcutta|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191008212042/https://www.caluniv.ac.in/about/Seals.html|archive-date=2019-10-08|access-date=2019-10-08}}</ref>]]
The first seal was adopted when the university was founded on 24 January 1857, when India was under [[Company rule in India|company rule]].<ref name=":0" />

The second seal of the university was adopted after the formation of the British Raj. It features within it a coat of arms, with a lion and the [[St Edward's Crown]] at the crest, symbolizing the formation of the [[British Raj]] when India was brought under direct rule by the [[The Crown|British Crown]]. It features a lion and unicorn as [[supporter]]s, and the [[motto]] ''[[Dieu et mon droit]]'' at the bottom.<ref name=":0" />

The third seal was used for a brief period of time in 1930. It features three elephants carrying a book.<ref name=":0" />

The fourth, fifth, and sixth seals are very similar, and they all feature [[Nelumbo nucifera|lotuses]].<ref name=":0" />

The seventh seal is currently used today.<ref name=":0" />

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{University of Calcutta}}

[[Category:University of Calcutta]]
[[Category:History of education in India]]
[[Category:Academic institutions associated with the Bengal Renaissance]]
[[Category:History of universities|Calcutta]]

History of the University of Calcutta - Revision history

>BD2412: Update from filename change., replaced: ,S → , S