SHILLONG: Shillong College which came into existence after the partition of India will soon complete its 60 years of existence.
The celebration of the ‘Diamond Jubilee’ of Shillong College was inaugurated on Thursday, in the college premises in the presence of principals of the other colleges of the state, alumni members of the college, retired and serving staff of the college and students.
Principal of the college, K D Ramsiej enlightened everyone with a brief history about the college lauding the efforts of both the past and present principals and Staff (both teaching and non-teaching) which has helped to establish the college as a premier institution of the state today.
The college was set up during the early 50’s after the partition of the country and the emergence of East Pakistan now Bangladesh. The college which is celebrating its Diamond Jubilee has a deeper connection with the riots and killings which had resulted following the partition of the country.
The journey of the Shillong College started after thousands of the Hindu population were forced to leave Sylhet due to communal tension. After leaving Sylhet, thousands of the Hindu population then migrated to Shillong, which then had few elite colleges like St Anthony’s and St Edmund’s College catering to the needs of the students of the region.
However, it was impossible for students belonging to the middle class family to pursue their higher studies in these elite colleges and this resulted in huge drop outs.
Few of the educated urban upper and middle class Hindu populations which had migrated from Sylhet along with few of the locals tried to address this problem and started mobilising the noble opinion of setting up an institution that would provide an opportunity to the drop outs and others. It was further understood that not only men but even women needed a similar opportunity to achieve higher goals in life.
The prominent names who had conceptualised this idea on the need to set up an institution to cater to students belonging to the middle calls included Rohini Kr Chaudhury, Dr PK Gupta, Prof. DP Chakraborty, AS Khongphai, AC Roy, KN Dutta, AB Choudhury and others.
Their efforts finally paid off with the setting up of the first co-educational college of the town in the shape of ‘Shillong College’ which was established on August 15, 1956.
Sudhindra Chandra Gupta, took over as the founder principal of the college and classes started on August 16 at Jail Road Boy’s High School, Jail Road with the enrolment of 35 students in IA and I.Com. It was in 1958, the BA and B.Com courses were introduced. The college acquired its own campus in the year 1962 whose foundation stone was laid by the then chief minister of Assam, Bimala Prasad Chaliha on May 11, 1960. After getting its own campus, the college started the Science Stream on July 23, 1963. The college will soon complete its 60th year of glorious existence and has to its credit a large number of graduates in Arts, Commerce, Science and other streams, contributing towards the overall development of the society.
Meanwhile, Urban Affairs Minister AmpareenLyngdoh, who is an alumni member of the college in her address as guest of honour recollected her life as a student of the college. She stated that her life in Shillong College rendered her confidence and moulded her for future.
She urged the students of the college to diligently work hard and prove to the world that they can be the best.
Former Vice Chancellor of North Eastern Hill University and Former Rajya Sabha Member Professor Mrinal Miri in his inaugural address said that an institution’s growth depends on the dedication of the academic and supporting staff under the leadership of the Principal. He expressed that he was sure that Shillong College like other institutions would continue to grow in its pursuit of excellence rendering its service to the society. To mark the beginning of this year’s long celebration the two day National Seminar on Applied Ethics on the theme: ‘Issues in Contemporary Society: Rights, Duties And Sustainability In Search Of Harmony’ organized by the Department of Philosophy and IQAC was also inaugurated on Thursday.
