INSTITUTIONAL DISTINCTIVENESS

 Women’s Christian College, established on 19th July 1945 is the only Christian Protestant girls’ college in the state of West Bengal. It therefore occupies a historic position in the denominational mosaic of higher education in this region. It is an ecumenical institution established by various Protestant denominations of the Christian faith such as Anglican (later Church of North India), Baptist and Lutheran sects which endowed it with a general affiliation to the Protestant Church. Interestingly, the college is not governed by any Church, mission, bishopric or other ecclesiastical body but is administered by its own autonomous Governing Body which operates under the apex authority of the Women’s Christian College Trust. Enjoying religious minority status, the college is exempt from certain requirements under Article 30 of the Constitution of India and relevant Government Orders. As a result, it does not come under the centralized admission portal of the state government, is not required to deposit 50% of fees collected to the state government and has autonomy in constituting its Governing Body and Selection Committees for recruitment of teaching staff.

Women’s Christian College is unique in that it was established, not through European colonial missionary endeavour as were most of the Christian colleges in the country but through indigenous initiative and enterprise. Two Bengali Christian women of exceptional merit and foresight – Ms Nirajbasini Shome and Ms Stella Bose founded the college in an age dominated by the colonial yoke and patriarchal norms. Ms Nirajbasini Shome was the Founder Secretary while Ms Stella Bose was the Founder Principal of the institution. They are revered today by our college community as having been the pioneering progenitors of a sound tradition in women’s higher education, developing into enduring icons of Indian nationalist vision and women’s empowerment. When the St John’s Diocesan Girls College on nearby Lansdowne Road was closed down by the British authorities as a result of intense nationalist activity it was felt that a college for girls should be established in the vicinity to compensate for the loss. As a result, Ms Shome and Ms Bose gave up stable academic careers in the government to take on the responsibility of establishing a college for women. They sought to locate a suitable venue where the proposed college could be housed and started the institution in a building of the London Missionary Society (LMS) on 6, Greek Church Row. The college gradually extended its premises, subjects, staff and students to become a premier institution of higher education in south Kolkata.

It received affiliation from the University of Calcutta for the Intermediate Arts and Bachelor of Arts programmes in 1947 and 1949 respectively. Initially it was a private Christian religious minority college but in 1977 the college received affiliation with the University Grants Commission through its acquisition of the 2F Certificate. It was recognized by the State Government from the 1970s through various Government Orders. Thereafter, it became a Grant-in-Aid institution, the salaries of its permanent staff members coming from the State Government and the UGC under the Pay Packet Scheme. All this was possible due to the dedication of staff members and the exceptional leadership of the founders. Thus, through example, effort and enterprise, a guiding vision, and sacrificial renunciation of personal ease and comfort our venerable founders established this institution with a dream in their eyes, and dedication in their hearts. Almost eighty years on, Women’s Christian College stands as a testament to that vision, known far and wide for its distinctive ethos of discipline tempered by love. A direct reflection of if the ‘love’ in its stated motto is seen in its resource-sharing, not only with collaborating institutions but also with less fortunate sections of society through its NSS, ISPC, SUCHARU and Women’s Study Cell activities.

Thus, Women’s Christian College has a remarkable history, an exceptional genesis, a great legacy (of nationalist/patriotic fervor and women’s independence) and a consistent graph of growth in keeping with its logo ‘By love serve one another.’ (Bible, Galatians, 5:13) Since pre-Independence times the college, nestled in the heart of metropolitan Kolkata (then Calcutta) has been a beacon of light not only in the vicinity but in the city at large, empowering through a high quality education and character formation generations of young women hailing from diverse strata of society, irrespective of caste, class and creed.

Owing to its indigenous (as distinct from missionary) origins Women’s Christian College is not a ‘large’ college, not having had recourse to imperial resources as most missionary colleges had but it enjoys amplitude in the range of its services, reach and renown. It has grown from a few rooms on rented premises to three four- storeyed buildings located in their own premises, and is looking to expand its campus and operations. Physical limitations notwithstanding, the college has been reaching out to all corners of West Bengal and beyond, especially through its hostel which has, over the years accommodated students from Siliguri to the Sunderbans.

The religious plurality of the immediate locality represented by the Greek Orthodox Church, the Kalighat Temple and the Mosque, all within 200 metres of each other is reflected in the multireligious, cross-cultural and poly-linguistic composition of the students which speaks for the demographic diversity and inclusive ambience of the college.

Securely rooted in its patriotic and women-centric traditions, deriving motivation from the inspiring example set by its founders, nurturing generations of students according to the spiritual philosophy of love and developing its humanistic values in a rapidly changing world, Women’s Christian College has not only contributed to the narrative of higher education in the state but has been immensely successful in shaping students who go on to enjoy rewarding careers in diverse sectors, holding aloft the banner of their alma mater. If the outlook, values and achievements of students primarily determine an institution’s worth then Women’s Christian College occupies a foremost position in this respect as the bond between its students and teachers is extraordinary in its warmth, closeness, mutual respect, fellowship and above all, love, the emotional cornerstone of this noble institution of proven lineage and considerable heritage, recognized for its continuous contribution to women’s holistic education and empowerment.