History, achievements, facilities and famous personalities oScottish Church College, Kolkata

One of the oldest Christian liberal arts and Science College is Scottish Church College. Dr. Alexander Duff founded this College in the year 1830 on 13th July. At that time the college was first known as General Assembly's Institution. Mr. Alexander Duff was born in Scotland on 15th April 1806. He passed his degree from University of St. Andrews and began a brilliant career. But due to his adventurous voyage he arrived in Kolkata 0n 27 May 1830 and here at Kolkata he undertook missionary work. The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland sent Mr. Duff to Kolkata for setting up an institution in the medium of English. As Mr. Duff was a dedicated missionary he agreed and came to Kolkata and set up this College which was first named as General Assembly's Institution.

In the 19th century Bengalis were also very keen to spread western education. The church officers and Govt. officials were skeptical about the response towards English medium education and this institution. Specially they were concerned about the elite class Bengalis participation into this institution. Then came Great Raja Ram Mohan Roy with hi generous help by bringing some students to the institution. Raja Ram Mohan Roy's primary aim was to educate Bengalis the English and that is why he did enormous help to the institution as by organizing the venue and finding the students. He even then declared that only reading Bible will not convert any one to other religion.

As Mr. Duff knew that without high command over anyone's native language it would be very difficult to learn foreign language quickly. So the priority was given to Bengali language too as well as English. Mr. Duff also introduced sports activities also into the institution. One subject Political Economy was also introduced in the institution curriculum and he was highly criticized by the church officials.

The disruption of 1843 led the separation of Duff from the church and then he found a new institution which was named as Free Church Institution. He was extremely supported by Sir James Outrram and Sir Henry Lawrence. Later the General Assembly's Institution and Free Church Institution merged and formed The Scottish Church College.

Raja Ram Mohan Roy was continuously helping Mr. Duff for spreading the institution as well as the English language. For Bengali Renaissance movement this Scottish Church College played a vital role in ushering the spirit of the movement. Many popular scholar of Bengal appointed as teachers in this institution. Surendranath Bannerjee, Kalicharan Bandopadhyaya, Gyan Chandra Ghosh, Mohimohan Basu, Sudhir Kumar Dasgupta, Bholanath Mukhopadhaya, Kalinadas Nag and other eminent scholars who taught here and helped to make the standard high of the college.

Dr. Duff also played a vital role in founding the Kolkata University in 1857 and he was associated with the Agro-horticulture Society and the Medical College. The Scottish Church College also took part in Women Education in Kolkata. The college was managed by Church of Scotland until 1953 and then it was managed by Church of North India as a constituent body.

Indian Post released a stamp on 27th September 1980 for the contribution of this college towards cultural, educational and artistic heritage of Indian subcontinent. In 2004 it bagged the "A" rating by National Assessment and Accreditation Council. The Scottish Church College celebrated its 175 years of existence.UGC has also granted this College for its educational excellence.

This College which has produced a large number of noble personalities of India. It has produced Chief Ministers, Vice Chancellors, Governors, Jurists, Ambassadors, Educationists, Scholars, Doctors, Poets, Saints, and Artists etc.

Some of The Very famous persons produced by Scottish Church College:

Swami Vivekananda, The Great Hindu Saint
Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Founder of Azad Hind Fauj
Prafulla Chandra Sen, Former Chief Minister of West Bengal
A.C. Bhakti Vedanta Swami Prabhupad, Founder of ISCKON
Jagamohan Dalmiya, Former ICC Chief
Paramhansa Yogananda, Writer of an Autobiography of a Yogi
Birendra Krishna Bhadra, Poet and famous reciter of Mahisasura Mardini
Mithun Chakraborty, India Actor
Buddhadev Dasgupta
Sisir BHaduri, A Playwright
Soumitra Chatterjee, Actor
Manoj Mitra, Dramatist

The Scottish Church College is affiliated with West Bengal Board of Secondary Education, WBCHS and University of Calcutta. The campus of the College is very beautifully maintained. The Students Alumni call themselves as "Caledonians" and the name of the festival is "Caledonia".

The first principal of The College was Sir Duff and the Present Principal is Mr. John Abraham from 2002.

The Chronology of the College:

1830: General Assembly's Institution (Established)
1843: Free Church Institution
1863: Duff College
1908: Scottish Churches College
1929: Scottish Church College


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