Serampore College
| Latin: Gloriam Sapientes Possidebunt | |
| Motto | The wise will possess glory |
|---|---|
| Type | College |
| Established | 1818 |
| Principal | Dr. Vansanglura |
Administrative staff | 79 (teaching), 30 (non-teaching) |
| Students | 2,277 |
| Location | Serampore, West Bengal, India |
| Campus | Urban |
| Affiliations | Senate of Serampore College (University) and University of Calcutta |
| Website | http://www.seramporecollege.org/ |
 | |
Serampore College is located in Serampore Town, in Hooghly District, West Bengal, India. Established in 1818, it is the second oldest college in the country, and one of the oldest educational institute in India that is still functional.[1] The college consists of two entities: The theological faculty and a separate college with faculties of arts, science, commerce
The Senate of Serampore College (University) runs the academic administration of all the theological colleges affiliated with it. The council of Serampore College holds a Danish charter and had the power to confer degrees in any subject, which it currently exercises only for conferring theological degrees as recommended by the senate.[2]
Degrees are awarded for arts, science and commerce students of the Serampore College by the University of Calcutta.[3]
For theology, the college is affiliated to the Senate of Serampore College (University). Several theological colleges and seminaries all over India including Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are affiliated to the Senate of Serampore College (University).
The present principal is Dr. Laltluangliana Khiangte
Motto
The college motto is from Proverbs 3:35 in the Vulgate: Gloriam Sapientes Possidebunt, "wise shall possess glory."
Authority to issue degrees and accreditation
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 the University of Calcutta in 1857 the arts, science and commerce parts of Serampore College were affiliated to the University of Calcutta. However, Serampore College still today continues to enjoy the privilege of conferring its own 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.[4]
History
Founding by English missionaries
| Principals |
|---|
|
Serampore College is the oldest university in India to be in continuous operation.[5] It was founded in 1818 by the English missionaries known as the Serampore Trio:[6]
Their aim was to give an education in arts and sciences to students of every "caste, colour or country" and to train people for ministry in the growing church in India (See: Christianity in India).
From its beginning the college has been ecumenical but this means that it has no automatic basis of support from any one branch of the Christian church. Prior to 1818, the Serampore Trio had worked together in providing education for their own children and the children, including females, of the native Indians.
Original charter from Denmark
Since Serampore was then a Danish colony, King Frederick VI, the King of Denmark, issued Serampore College its Royal Charter of Incorporation on 23 February 1827, in Copenhagen, Denmark (Charter, 1, Charter, 2, Charter, 3). The charter came in response to Joshua Marshman's visit to King Frederick in August 1826; the charter gave Serampore College the privilege of awarding degrees in arts and theology. William Carey, Joshua Marshman and John Clark Marshman (Joshua's son) were designated as members of the first council. At its opening, the Serampore Trio released a prospectus which proposed "A College for the instruction of Asiatic Christian and other Youth in Eastern Literature and European Science." The college was open to all people of any caste or creed, and the founders ensured that no denominational test would apply to faculty members. The charter has also been confirmed by the Bengal Government Act IV of 1918.
The status accorded by the Danish charter has since been reaffirmed for the study of theology and now forms the basis for degrees of all levels conferred by over forty theological colleges throughout India and is administered by the senate. It was incorporated by Royal Charter in 1827 and the Bengal Government Act IV of 1918.
Control passed back to the British
After 22 February 1845 when Denmark sold all of its Indian assets to Britain the management and operation of the college continued without interruption under the direction of a master and council. In 1856 the Baptist Missionary Society in England took over the management of the college and, in 1857, the college became affiliated with the newly established University of Calcutta and became a constituent college of that university. In 1883 the college closed as an arts college and began functioning as a Christian Training Institution and a theological institute for the Baptist churches in Bengal. Affiliating again with the University of Calcutta in 1911, Serampore College, in 1913, was authorised to award the Bachelor of Arts degree. The college faculty was interdenominational.
Twentieth century
On 4 December 1915, the first group of Bachelor of Divinity students graduated:
- The Reverend I. W. Johory, Professor in the Canadian Mission College, Indore;
- The Reverend N. G. Kuriakos, a priest in the Orthodox Syrian Church; and
- Mr. D. M. Devasahayam, London Missionary Society, South India.
Between 1916 and 1927, sixty-nine further students earned their Bachelor of Divinity degrees through Serampore College.
During the centenary year of the college, in 1918, the Bengal Legislative Council passed the Serampore College Act (1918 Act, i, 1918 Act, ii, 1918 Act, iii, 1918 Act, iv) for the purpose of enlarging the college council and forming a new interdenominational senate that would confer theological degrees for all Christian denominations in India. By 1960 twenty other Indian colleges and seminaries affiliated themselves with Serampore.
The name of the college and its founders are honoured today more widely than just within Christian circles – the Carey Library at Serampore houses 16,000 rare volumes and is used by scholars from across the world.
Honours
On 7 June 1969, the Indian Department of Posts issued a stamp[7] and a first day cover[8] depicting Serampore College.
Gallery
The Senate
The Senate of Serampore College (University) is located in Serampore Town, in Hooghly District, West Bengal, India. Serampore was granted the status of university in 1829, making it India's first institution to have the status of a university.[9]
The college was founded by the missionaries Joshua Marshman, William Carey and William Ward (the Serampore trio), to give an education in Arts and Sciences to students of every "caste, colour or country" and to train a ministry for the growing Church in India (See: Christianity in India).
The Senate of Serampore College (University) runs the academic administration of all its affiliated theological colleges. The Council of Serampore College holds a Danish Charter and had the power to confer degrees in any subject, which it currently exercises only for conferring theological degrees as recommended by the Senate.[10]
The present Master is the Rt.Revd.Dr.John S. Sadananda, Bishop Emeritus of Karnataka Southern Diocese of the CSI.[11]
Several theological Colleges and Seminaries all over India including Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are affiliated to the Senate of Serampore College.
Authority to issue degrees and accreditation
King Frederick VI of Denmark originally granted a Royal Charter giving the Senate of Serampore College the status of a degree granting university.[12] The Senate of Serampore College (University) is a University within the meaning of Section 2 (f)[13] of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956[14] (as modified up to 20 December 1985).
In fact, Serampore was the first institution[15] to be given the status of a university in India.
It confers its own degrees in Theology under the power vested by the Charter and Act of Serampore College.
History
Since Serampore was then a Danish colony, King Frederick VI, the King of Denmark, issued Serampore College its Royal Charter of Incorporation on 23 February 1827, in Copenhagen, Denmark (Charter, 1, Charter, 2, Charter, 3). The charter came in response to Joshua Marshman's visit to King Frederick in August 1826; the charter gave Serampore College the privilege of awarding degrees in Arts and Theology. William Carey, Joshua Marshman, and John Clark Marshman (Joshua's son) were designated as members of the first Council. At its opening, the Trio released a prospectus which proposed "A College for the instruction of Asiatic Christian and other Youth in Eastern Literature and European Science." The College was open to all persons of any caste or creed, and the founders ensured that no denominational test would apply to faculty members. The charter has also been confirmed by the Bengal Govt Act. IV of 1918.
The status accorded by the Danish Charter has since been re-affirmed for the study of Theology[16] and now forms the basis for degrees of all levels conferred by over forty theological colleges throughout India, and is administered by the Senate.It was incorporated by Royal Charter of 1827 and Bengal Government Act. IV of 1918.
Degrees awarded
Presently, the Senate of Serampore College (University) restricts itself to award of degrees pertaining to theology.
The following are the degrees awarded to students through its affiliated colleges throughout India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka:
Internal
| Officers of the Senate |
|---|
Graduate programmes
- Bachelor of Divinity (B.D.)
- Bachelor of Theology (B. Th.)
- Bachelor of Missiology (B.Miss)
Postgraduate programmes
Doctoral programmes
| Registrarships of the University[17]
(Period, Name of the Registrar ) |
|---|
|
External
Diploma programmes
- Diploma in Christian Studies (Dip. C.S.)
- Diploma in Clinical Pastoral Counselling (Dip.C.P.C.)
- Diploma in Bible translation (Dip B.T)
Graduate programmes
- Bachelor of Christian Studies (B.C.S.)
Postgraduate programmes
- Master of Ministry (M.Min.)
- Master of Christian Studies (MCS)
Doctoral programmes
Constituent Colleges
- Serampore College[18] (Theology Department), Serampore,
- South Asia Theological Research Institute,[19] Serampore,
Affiliated Colleges
The affiliated Colleges of the University up to 2014[18] are,
India
- Andhra Pradesh
- Assam
- Gujarat
- Haryana
- Jharkhand
- Gossner Theological College,[18] Ranchi,
- Santal Theological College,[18] Benagaria,
- Karnataka
- Kerala
- Faith Theological Seminary,[18] Adoor,
- Federated Faculty for Research in Religion and Culture,[18] Kottayam,[19]
- Kerala United Theological Seminary,[18] Thiruvananthapuram,
- Malankara Syrian Orthodox Theological Seminary,[18] Mulanthuruthy,
- Mar Thoma Episcopal Jubilee Institute of Evangelism,[18] Tiruvalla,
- Mar Thoma Theological Seminary,[18] Kottayam,
- Orthodox Theological Seminary,[18] Kottayam,
- Madhya Pradesh
- Maharashtra
- St. Thomas Orthodox Theological Seminary,[18] Nagpur,
- Union Biblical Seminary,[18] Pune,
- United Theological Seminary of Maharashtra,[18] Pune,
- Manipur
- Meghalaya
- Mizoram
- Academy of Integrated Christian Studies,[18] Aizawl,
- Aizawl Theological College,[18] Aizawl,
- Missionary Training College,[18] Aizawl,
- Nagaland
- Odisha
- Tamil Nadu
- Bethel Bible Institute,[18] Salem district,
- Gurukul Lutheran Theological College,[18] Chennai,
- Indian Theological Seminary,[18] Chennai,
- Madras Theological Seminary and College,[18] Chennai,
- Southern Asia Christian College,[18] Kanchipuram district,
- Tamil Nadu Theological Seminary,[18] Madurai,
- Telangana
- Andhra Christian Theological College,[18] Hyderabad, Telangana,
- Calvin Institute of Theology,[18] Yacharam,
- Mennonite Brethren Centenary Bible College,[18] Shamshabad,
- Uttarakhand
- Uttar Pradesh
- West Bengal
Bangla Desh
Sri Lanka
- Theological College of Lanka,[18] Pilimatalawa,
References
- ↑ Seven oldest universities in India: All you need to know
- ↑ World Council of Churches, Ministerial Formation, July 2003. Retrieved 23 April 2006.
- ↑ Education Info India Colleges under University of Calcutta, July 2003. Retrieved 23 April 2006.
- ↑ "UGC Act-1956" (PDF). mhrd.gov.in/. Secretary, University Grants Commission. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
- ↑ List of oldest universities in continuous operation#Asia
- ↑ "The Story of Serampore and its College". mergingcurrents.co. p. IVth edition 2006 page 174.
- ↑ Postal Stamp
- ↑ First Day Cover
- ↑ Government of India, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Department of Higher Education
- ↑ World Council of Churches Ministerial Formation, July 2003. Retrieved 23 April 2006.
- ↑ The present Vice-Master is Mrs. Hilda Peacock.Anglican Communion News Service
- ↑ Government of India, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Department of Higher Education, "Other Universities", Chapter XVI, Calcutta University, Three Missionaries, Carey, Marshman and Ward started the first Mission college at Serampore in 1818, and 9 years later it received a charter from the King of Denmark empowering it to grant degree.
- ↑ Under Section 2 (f) of the 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 recoginsed by the Commission in accordance with the regulations made in this behalf under this Act." The UGC took the opinion that the Senate fell under the purview of Section 2 (f) of the said Act since The Serampore College Act, 1918 was passed by the Government of West Bengal.
- ↑ The University Grants Commission Act, 1956
- ↑ Murli Manohar Joshi, Higher Education in India Vision and Action, A paper presented at the UNESCO World Conference on Higher Education in the Twenty First Century, Paris, 5–9 October 1998. Internet, accessed 22 August 2008.
- ↑ Sankar Ray, The Hindu (Business Line), 11 April 2008 Almost a century later, the charter was endorsed officially under the Bengal Govt Act IV of 1918.
- ↑ Senate, Registrars of the Senate
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 Senate, Affiliated colleges 2014.
- 1 2 3 Monica J. Melanchton, Graduate Biblical Studies in India in Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza, Kent Harold Richards (Edited), Transforming Graduate Biblical Education: Ethos and Discipline, SBL, Atlanta, 2010, p.120.
Further reading
- John Clark Marshman (1859). "The Life and Times of Carey, Marshman and Ward". I & II.
- J.T.K.Daniel and Roger E. Hedlund (1993). "Carey's Obligation and India's Renaissance".
- Sunil Kumar Chatterjee (2006). "Hannah Marshman - The first woman missionary in India".
- Sunil Kumar Chatterjee (2002). "Family Letters of Dr. William Carey".
- Sunil Kumar Chatterjee (2005). "William Carey - The Father of Modern Missions in the East" (New Edition).
- Sunil Kumar Chatterjee (2004). "William Carey and Serampore" (2nd Edition).
- Sunil Kumar Chatterjee (2001). "John Clark Marshman (a trustworthy Friend of India)" (– Scholar search) (2nd Edition).
- The Council of Serampore College (2006). "The Story of Serampore and its College" (– Scholar search) (Fourth Edition).
External links
- Information from Banglapedia.com
- Serampore College website
- NAC homepage on accredited Colleges
- NAC 2004 Report on the College and its degree issuing position
- The Church of North India
- Friends of Serampore College
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||