Allahabad University

Allahabad University

Muir Central College, now part of the Science Faculty of Allahabad University
Motto Quot Rami Tot Arbores
Motto in English As Many Branches, So Many Trees
Established 1887
Type Public
Chancellor Dr Verghese Kurien
Vice-Chancellor Prof. Anil K. Singh
Location Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India
Campus Urban
Affiliations UGC
Website www.allduniv.ac.in

Allahabad University (Hindi: इलाहाबाद विश्वविद्यालय), is a premier Central University located in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India. Its origins lie in the Muir Central College, named after Lt. Governor of North-Western Provinces, Sir William Muir in 1876, who suggested the idea of a Central University at Allahabad, which later evolved to the present University,[1][2] and at one point it was called the "Oxford of the East",[3] and on June 24, 2005 its Central University status was restored through the 'University Allahabad Act, 2005', of the Parliament of India.[4]

Contents

History

The foundation stone of the Muir Central College, was laid by Governor-General of India, Lord Northbrook on December 9, 1873. The college was named after Sir William Muir, Lt. Governor of United Province, who was instrumental in its foundation. The building was designed by William Emerson, who also designed Victoria Memorial in Kolkata and Crawford Market in Mumbai in a combination of Indo-Saracenic, Egyptian and Gothic styles.[5]

Initially it functioned under, University of Calcutta, and later, on 23 September 1887, the University of Allahabad was established, making it the fourth modern university established in India.

It began as an affiliating and examining body for graduate and postgraduate degrees with a classical orientation and the responsibility for secondary education as well. By 1904 the university established its own teaching departments and instituted doctoral research programmes. The University Senate hall was opened by the Lieutenant-Governor, Sir John Hewett, in 1912. In 1921, with the promulgation of the 'Allahabad University Act of 1921', the Muir Central College merged with University, which was re-organised as a unitary teaching and residential University. Over the next few years its affiliated colleges were transferred to Agra University and the task of conducting secondary-level examinations was relocated.

In 1951, the University (while maintaining its fundamental unitary character) recognised certain local institutions as Associated Colleges authorised to teach undergraduate courses under the Faculties of Arts, Commerce, Science, and Law.

The university has had on its rolls a host of politicians and statesmen including one President and two Vice-Presidents of the country, two former Prime Ministers, several Union and State ministers, at least four Chief Justices of the Supreme Court, besides a large number of senior bureaucrats.

In view of these achievements by the Institution, as well as its position among the universities of Uttar Pradesh, the State Government accorded it formal recognition in July 1992 as a ‘Premier Institution’ (Vishesh Agrani Sanstha).

In 1987, the university completed one hundred years of establishment. It was during the centenary celebrations of the University that the demand for "Central status" to the University was made unanimously by the students, faculty, and employees. After a sustained campaign, the Government of India finally acceded to the public demand. In December 2004, a Bill was introduced in Parliament proposing to recognise the University of Allahabad as an ‘Institution of National Importance’ to restore the Central character of the University. Both Houses of the Parliament passed "The University of Allahabad Act, 2005" in May 2005.

On 23 June 2005, the President of India gave his assent to the bill and the university was declared an 'Institution of National Importance' once again. The Government of India issued the gazette notification on July 11, 2005, and the university started functioning as a Central University on July 14, 2005.

The University of Allahabad Act, 2005 has provided for the following to be deemed as the Constituent Colleges of the University:

Achievements

Two of its departments namely Ancient History, Culture and Archaeology, and Psychology, are recognised as UGC Centres of Advanced Study, and five more are (or have been) UGC Departments of Special Assistance. Several departments in the Faculty of Science are covered by the COSIST and FIST Programmes. Several major research projects awarded by national R&D agencies have been successfully completed, and Departmental or Inter-Departmental Research Groups and individual faculty members are carrying out projects.

These projects (as well as earlier and current collaborative academic programmes with agencies such as the CSIR, the DST, the DBT, the DOD, the DoS, the DRDO, ICSSR, ICHR, UGC, NCERT, Planning Commission etc.) have helped augment and expand research facilities and infrastructure. The CSIR has granted a ‘Chair’ to the university on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), and the university has already prepared a Plan of Action in the IPR field. The UGC has established the M. N. Saha Chair, the Munshi Prem Chand Chair and the Nirala Chair in the Physics, Urdu and Hindi Departments respectively.

The university has professional programmes in Business Management, Electronic and Tele-communication Engineering, Law, Medicine, Educational Training, Human Resource Development and Management, Journalism and Mass Communication among others. In accordance with the UGC Scheme for vocational courses, vocational options have been provided in the graduate degree programmes.

The university has developed post-graduate professional courses, and such courses are being offered by the Institute of Professional Studies (IPS). The Centre of Food Technology and Centre of Computer Education are two activities, which offer Diploma Certificate Courses.

The university has established the Institute of Inter-disciplinary Studies (IIDS)in 2000, designed as a loose collective of Centres. Centres of IIDS: K. Banerjee Centre of Atmospheric and Ocean Studies, M N Saha Centre of Space Studies, Biotechnology,[6] Mobile Communication for Developing Countries (CMCDC), Bio-medical NMR, and Consciousness Studies have already started working. Other planned centres will cover inter-disciplinary areas such as Environmental Science, Genetic Engineering, Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), Human Resource Development, and Globalisation and its Effects. It is already conducting a post-graduate programme and several high-end research projects.

The activities of the IIDS are funded by project and other grants from national agencies and institutes by the faculty members of the iversity. The IIDS is seeking special grants for infrastructure and research faculty and staff to enlarge the scope of its activities. The UGC has sanctioned teaching positions for several centres of IIDS.

The university has instituted an inter-disciplinary undergraduate science programme (Applied Sciences) with the objective of inculcating a cross-disciplinary approach involving the Physical Sciences and Biology streams, to give grounding for higher post-graduate studies in such subjects as Biophysics, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Bio informatics, Environmental Science, NanoScience, Nano Technology, and Medical Physics.

Many university departments in the modular pattern, by themselves or in co-operation with other departments, have initiated or worked out self-financing diploma and proficiency courses. The Department of Psychology, for instance, had instituted a professional inter-disciplinary M. Psy. (Master of Psychology) programme in Human Resource Development and Management in the Ninth Plan period. This programme is, however, not being offered at the moment because of the shortage of faculty. It is also proposed to rename the programme, in view of the recommendation of the UGC, as Master in Human Resource Development and Management. The Department has implemented the concept of ‘Cafeteria choice’ courses/modules, credit courses in other departments and obligatory field studies in their Post-graduate programme. The Regional Learning Resource and Documentation Centre, which was set up by the Department in the Ninth Plan period, is to be further strengthened in the Eleventh Plan period.

The university has established an autonomous Centre of Behavioural and Cognitive Sciences under the University Grants Commission scheme of UPE during the Tenth Plan. Specialists from Cognitive Psychology, Computer Science, Linguistics, Neuro- Science, Philosophy, and Psychology work together in the Centre to offer Masters and D. Phil courses in Behavioural and Cognitive Sciences.

The Geography Department has created a modern Remote Sensing and Geographical Information System (RS/GIS) unit (as a Central facility) during the Ninth Plan, for research, database development and the conduct of a Post-graduate Diploma course in RS/GIS.

The Department of Economics has been given a ‘Chair’ by the Planning Commission to promote research in the field of planning and development. The syllabi incorporate teaching and research in Environmental Economics and the economic and societal impact of globalisation on India, with particular emphasis on projects/studies on its social, political, legal, and cultural aspects. The research base is being further strengthened by the upgrade of the Statistics Laboratory. The department has introduced a one year Post-graduate Diploma Course in Foreign Trade.

The salient features of the application of ICT in the University are as follows:

The university emphasises ‘outreach’ programmes. Such programmes envisage the integration of extension with research proposals and teaching curricula. The purpose is to involve the University departments in serving the developmental and other needs of the community. The university co-operates with government agencies and NGOS in extension initiatives. Efforts are also underway to establish linkages with the corporate world and impart training to the students in areas of mutual interest.

Affiliation: Acceptance and Revocation

There has been much controversy related to the merger of the Motilal Nehru Medical College with the University. This has, however, been resolved. The Honorable High Court of Allahabad, has recently passed an order directing that integration of the Medical College with the University be completed by October 1, 2006. The affiliation of the S. P. Mukherjee Government Degree College with the University has yet to be finalised because of the objections raised by the Government of Uttar Pradesh.

Unfortunately, Harish Chandra Research Institute of Mathematics and Mathematical Physics, Allahabad and Kamla Nehru Post-Graduate Medical Institute, Allahabad have sought to revoke their affiliation from the University. The same has been endorsed by the Executive Council of the University. (Further action in this matter would be taken once the Honorable President of India, the Visitor of the University, gives his consent to the recommendation of the University's Executive Council).

Academic Departments

The following are the different academic departments offering degrees and performing research at the University.

Faculty of Arts

Faculty of Science

Permanent faculty positions under tenth plan of UGC for courses running under projects/self finance mode

Permanent faculty positions under eleventh plan of UGC

Independent Centre

Arts Faculty Courses

Institute of Professional Studies

Institute of Inter Disciplinary Studies

Purely Project Funded Centre

Campus

The campus of the University is spread over in the sprawling city of Allahabad.

Hostels

Allahabad University has a number of residential hostels that house students for the duration of their study. Some of the hostels are:

Colleges

The following colleges are affiliated to Allahabad University:

Alumni

Politicians

Writer and academics

Others

Further reading

References

  1. ^  Chisholm, Hugh, ed (1911). "Muir, Sir William". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. ."..In 1885 he was elected principal of Edinburgh University "
  2. ^ History Allahabad University website.
  3. ^ Allahabad Varsity to become a central university The Times of India, May 11, 2005.
  4. ^ Central University status restored for Allahabad University Ministry of Human Resource Development, Press Information Bureau, Government of India. June 24, 2005.
  5. ^ Muir College The Hindu, June 9, 2006.
  6. ^ “Genesis & Brief History of Allahabad University on AU’s Official web page”. Stated that the realms of inter-disciplinarity are being explored by the Institute of Inter-Disciplinary Studies (established in 2000) through its Centres of Atmospheric and Ocean Studies (KBCAOS) (named after K. Banerji), Space Studies (named after Megh Nad Saha), Bio-Technology…….|
  7. ^ This campus had its Bharadwaj years ago Indian Express, November 17, 1998." Leaders of the stature of Madan Mohan Malaviya, Purshottam Das Tandon, Acharya Narendra Dev and scholars like Amar Nath Jha and M N Saha are among its alumni."
  8. ^ "Biography of Rajendra Singh". Magsaysay Award website. 2001. http://www.rmaf.org.ph/Awardees/Biography/pdfbio/RajendraSingh.pdf. 

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See also
  • Cities and towns in Allahabd district
  • Cities and towns in Fatehpur district
  • Cities and towns in Kaushambi district
  • Cities and towns in Pratapgarh district
  • Villages in Allahabad district
  • Villages in Fatehpur district
  • Villages in Kaushambi district
  • Villages in Pratapgarh district
  • People from Allahabad
  • Allahabad Univesity alumni
  • People from Fatehpur
  • People from Kaushambi
  • People from Pratapgarh
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