Talk:Serampore College

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[edit] Authority to issue degrees?

I would like to see the text for the 1918 Act, i, 1918 Act, ii, 1918 Act, iii, 1918 Act, iv mention. The text and any other information about this would be helpful. As of know naming 4 acts without any context isn't helpful nor convincing. Is the school mentioned in the act? PatriotBible 23:09, 15 January 2007 (UTC)

The Act is there just to authorise degrees from this College Brookie :) - a will o' the wisp ! (Whisper...) 08:03, 16 January 2007 (UTC)
There is one more important question. They claim that it is a University (the so-called Serampore University). Has University Grants Commission of Indian given this institution such an authority, I mean to function as a University and to claim that it is a University The Hermes 17:34, 16 January 2007 (UTC)
I think that the name University is only an informal one - and not one officially promoted or used by the College itself. Brookie :) - a will o' the wisp ! (Whisper...) 05:57, 17 January 2007 (UTC)
The name Serampore University is actively used by almost all theological institutions in India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka that claim to offer degrees from "Serampore University". It is not informal at all. Please remember that once India instituted its own constitution and once UGC came up, any charter given by a foreign government needs to be ratified by UGC. Serampre area is no longer under the control of the Danish Government. The Hermes 11:39, 17 January 2007 (UTC)
Examples of Serampore University used in a formal sense
Very Rev Dr. Yoohanon Remban Bachelor of Divinity (B.D) from Senate of University of Serampore. [1]
Candidates who do not have a B.D. degree from Serampore University or an equivalent degree from any seminary, college or university may also apply for the Post-Graduate Diploma if they possess a Bachelor's degree in any discipline. [2]
In April 2005, the Serampore University recognized ATEN's central library in Kathmandu as adequate for Bachelor of Divinity (BD) studies. This means member Bible schools and colleges in Kathmandu can award at least a recognized Bachelor of Theology degree [3]
Rev. Dr. Premanand Bagh BD ( UBS / Serampore University) Mth ( UTC / Serampore University) [4]


Rev. Mrs. Rachel Bagh BSC ( Ravishankar University, MP) BD ( UBS / Serampore University) MTh ( UTC / Serampore University) [5]


Rev. Dr. Premanand Bagh BD ( UBS / Serampore University) Mth ( UTC / Serampore University) [6]
I can cite hundreds of examples that the name Serampore University is used in an official sense in the catalogs of Bible seminaries. This is fraud because no such university exists in India. The Hermes 11:55, 17 January 2007 (UTC)
  • Isn't the point that the College can issue its own degrees - we are not calling it a University in the article! It is not the College calling itself a University. We are generating a lot of heat over a non-point in my view. Brookie :) - a will o' the wisp ! (Whisper...) 13:52, 17 January 2007 (UTC)
  • In India no college can issue its own degree without UGC approval. If you feel you can justify one college issuing its own degree, then why fight against Diploma Mills. Also, they clearly say they "affiliate" other colleges to issue degree.
It is obvious that in me spite of citing examples you are trying to defend this bogus University. The Hermes 15:26, 17 January 2007 (UTC)
I have no axe to grind - I'm just rather worried that you do and I am not really sold on the language you use to refer to a perfectly respectable institution - it is not a bogus university! Brookie :) - a will o' the wisp ! (Whisper...) 15:57, 17 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] The definitive position

King Frederick VI of Denmark originally granted a Royal Charter giving Serampore College the status of a University to confer degrees. With the later establishment of Calcutta University in 1857 the Arts, Science and Commerce parts of Serampore College were affiliated to the Calcutta University. However Serampore College continues to enjoy the privilege of conferring degrees in Theology under the power vested by the Charter and Act of Serampore College. It is a private Grant-in-aid Minority College. The College is recognized by the University Grants Commission under Section 2(f) and 12(b) of the UGC Act, 1956. Brookie :) - a will o' the wisp ! (Whisper...) 16:14, 17 January 2007 (UTC)

What you say applies only to the non-theology departments. The Theology department which projects itself as Serampore University, and which is repeatedly addressed by people as Serampore University, has NOT been accredited by UGC or any other agency in India. The charter from Denmark no longer applies in India. The Hermes 07:12, 18 January 2007 (UTC)
Your edits are now becoming disruptive - please see the links I added at the end of the Serampore article - which is where the quote about the ability to issue degrees comes from - this is in the pre-amble to the College's offial grading report (which was A) - I presume that they know what they are talking about - even if you don't. Brookie :) - a will o' the wisp ! (Whisper...) 07:32, 18 January 2007 (UTC)
Do you mean that stating FACTS is disruptive in wikipedia known for open and honest discussion of facts?? Or is it some kind of a veiled threat that you are issuing?? The Hermes 07:48, 18 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] On Authorisation To Confer Degrees

I hope this will help clear some air. Serampore College was founded in 1818 and granted a Royal Charter on February 23, 1827 by King Frederick VI of Denmark. Serampore or Fredericksnagore as it was known then was a possession of Denmark Charter (Pt 1) Charter (Pt 2) Charter (Pt 3). In 1845, sovereignty of Tranquebar and Fredericksnagore was transferred to Britain Sale Deed. The Charter was recognised by the British and Article VI of the Treaty of Sale states :

The Rights and immunities granted to the Serampore College by Royal Charter of date 27th February 1827 shall not be interfered with but continue in force in the same manner as if they had been obtained by a charter from the British Government subject to the General law of British India.

Subsequently in 1918, the Serampore College Act, 1918 (Bengal Act No. IV of 1918) was passed by the Bengal Legislative Council SCA 1918 (Pt 1) SCA 1918 (Pt 2) SCA 1918 (Pt 3) SCA 1918 (Pt 4). This act was subsequently amended four times (1933, 1950, 1951 and 1997) by the legislature of Bengal.

Serampore College is aided financially by the University Grants Commission of India reference by virtue of Article 2(f) of the University Grants Commission Act , 1956 UGC Act 1956:

"University" means a University established or incorporated by or under a Central Act, a Provincial Act or a State Act, and includes any such institution as may, in consultation with the University concerned, be recognized by the Commission in accordance with the regulations made in this behalf under this Act.

and Article 12(b) of the same Act:

allocate and disburse, out of the Fund of the Commission, grants to Universities established or incorporated by or under a Central Act for the maintenance and development of such Universities or for any other general or specified purpose;

The institution is also accredited by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council of India reference NAAC Report.

Regarding the Senate of Serampore College (University) and the Board of Theological Education of the Senate of Serampore College, these are set up under the provisions of the Serampore Collect Act, 1918. Regarding its status as a "university", an explanation is given here:

The University Grant Commission, in 1958, noted that as Serampore College was functioning as a University in the Faculty of Divinity under a Bengal Legislation (Act No. IV of 1018) it was not necessary to deem it to be a University under Section 3 of the U.G.C. Act. Any difficulty that may be experienced by the College should be resolved in consultation with the State Government. The Commission also noted that the Theological degrees granted by Serampore College had not been included among the degrees to be notified by the Commission under Section 22 (3) of the U.G.C. Act and that therefore there would be no bar to the College continuing to award these degrees.

The University Grant Commission also took the view that, as the Serampore College in the Faculty of Theology is functioning under the Act of Bengal Legislature, it is a legally constituted body of University standing entitled to give its own degrees in theology. Students of Serampore College in the Faculty of Theology are, therefore, entitled to all the privileges of students in any of the other universities and colleges in India.

The Commission also communicated, and certified to the College that the name of Serampore College, Hooghly is included in the list of Colleges maintained under Section 2 (f) of the UGC Act, 1956 under the head of Non-Government Colleges teaching up to Bachelor's Degree.

Most of these are a matter of a public record.

I hope this clarifies matters. - Bob K 23:54, 1 May 2007 (UTC)

Comparatively speaking, the status of this institution as a degree granting institution is much less ambiguous than the "religious exempt" status institutions in the United States. - Bob K 00:05, 2 May 2007 (UTC)


[edit] Denominational status

The Senate of Serampore College (University) and Serampore College were founded by the Baptist Missionaries from England - Carey, Marshman and Ward. Althought the Baptist Missionary Society (BMS) merged into the Church of North India (CNI) after the Independence of India, neither the College nor the University have the CNI label.

Bob K, one of the users has put the CNI label which is unwarranted. Further, the emblem put up is not original. The original emblem existed before which the user Bob K removed in the course of uploading his image which does not match the Senate's emblem.

As to the editing of the infobox in Serampore College, the names of Rev.Dr.John Sadananda and Dr. Rajaratnam are found. Their names to be cited in the context of Senate of Serampore College (University) and not in Serampore College. Bob K is advised to see both these entries separately before editing any of these.

Thanks for the updates (and reverts). As you are probably aware, there has been an edit war going on in terms of categorising Serampore College and her affiliated institutions and bodies as a diploma mill and an unaccredited institution. There also seems to be a coordinated effort by some parties to edit articles related to Christianity in India in order to present them in a more negative light. This was an attempt to streamline the information provided in the various articles and to tidy up the entries. I apologise if some factual mistakes were made.
Regarding the reference to CNI, it was already there when I did the edit. You can have a look at the article's history to verify that. Regarding the emblem, you can use the original one if you prefer. I just re-rendered and colourised the emblem based on the blazon provided ref. If it doesn't meet your standards, then feel free to remove it.
One observation though; you listed the motto of the college as the Latin name. That would seem to be an inappropriate use of that label. If you'd look at Template:Infobox University, it would seem that it's supposed to be used for the name of the institution in Latin, if one is in use. In this case, Collegium Seramporium as a literal translation of Serampore College would be a more appropriate use of that label.
Nonetheless, I'd refrain from any further involvement in this set of articles as personally, I don't appreciate being referred to in the third person plus I really have no vested interest in seeing this institution being presented in a more neutral and informative perspective. - Bob K 02:05, 7 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Proposed Merge

I have proposed merging the relevant content of Senate of Serampore College (University) into this page. The content is almost identical. The only thing that needs discussion is whether, because of the organizational link, two separate articles are needed, in which case the duplicated content can be removed from each as more appropriate--such as the history. etc etc .

In any case, the list of former faculty is totally out of proportion content. I will remove it DGG 19:42, 11 May 2007 (UTC)
Keep two separate articles - but remove duplication. Brookie :) - a will o' the wisp ! (Whisper...) 07:23, 18 May 2007 (UTC)
It is clear that you have an axe to grind. You want to use the Wiki to promote a bogus "university" —Preceding unsigned comment added by 117.199.32.184 (talk) 16:03, 8 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Fair use rationale for Image:BTESSC.jpg

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BetacommandBot (talk) 04:07, 12 February 2008 (UTC)