Elphinstone College

Elphinstone College is an institution of higher education now part of Dr. Homi Bhabha State University who was affiliated to the University of Mumbai till 2019.[1] Established in 1834, it is one of the oldest colleges of the University of Mumbai. Alumni include B. R. Ambedkar , Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Virchand Gandhi, Badruddin Tyabji, Pherozeshah Mehta, Nanabhai Haridas, Kashinath Trimbak Telang and Jamsetji Tata and teachers include Dadabhai Naoroji. It has played a key role in the spread of Western education in the Bombay Presidency.

Not to be confused with the associated Elphinstone High School.

Elphinstone College
TypePublic
Established1834
Academic affiliations
Dr. Homi Bhabha State University
PrincipalDr. Madhuri V. Kagalkar
Location
Mumbai
,
Maharashtra
,
India
CampusUrban
NicknameElphi
Websitewww.elphinstone.ac.in

2006 marked the sesquicentennial celebrations of the college (1856–2006). It offers undergraduate level courses in the arts, sciences and commerce and is under the governance of the Maharashtra Government.

History
Mountstuart Elphinstone
Elphinstone College in the late 19th century

By the 19th century Bombay was a prosperous centre for maritime trade and commerce. In 1824 an English school was set up by the Bombay Native Education Society for Indian students.

In 1827 a resolution was passed that an institution for promotion of education should be established under Bombay Native Education Society and be designated as "Elphinstone College" (distinct from High School). This is after Hon. Mountstuart Elphinstone, the departing governor of Bombay who was responsible for beginning higher education in the city. Rs.2,29,636.00 was collected by public subscription to fund teaching professorships in the English language and the Arts, Science and Literature of Europe. The professorships were in honour of Mountstaurt Elphinstone. The college was formally constituted in 1835. The classes commenced in 1836, at Town Hall, with the first two professors: Arthur Bedford Orlebar (Natural Philosophy - i.e. Science) and John Harkness (General Literature).

In 1840, the professors' classes were amalgamated with the Society's High School to form the Elphinstone Native Education Institution. In 1845, the name was shortened to Elphinstone Institution.

Elphinstone College became a distinct institution, separated from the high school, on 1 April 1856. This year is officially considered to be the year of the establishment of Elphinstone College.

The college was affiliated to the University of Bombay in 1860.

In 1871, Elphinstone College got it own building in Byculla. James Trubshawe, an architect who flourished in the early part of the 19th century, designed the structure, which was built by the engineer, John Adams. This older Elphinstone College building stands opposite the Victoria Memorial Gardens in Byculla, Mumbai. It is now a hospital, and a second Elphinstone College across the Jehangir Art Gallery was built a decade later.[2]

Role in inception of Bombay University and other colleges

The University of Bombay was established in 1857. Inception classes were held at Elphinstone College and were subsequently moved to the present Fort campus.

To formalise legal education, a chair of Jurisprudence, the Perry Professorship, was set up at Elphinstone Institution in 1855. The same year, R. T. Reid (LL. B. Bar-at-Law) was appointed the first Perry Professor of Jurisprudence and the Government Law School as it was then called. This is taken as the inception of the Government Law College Mumbai.

It was suggested that Elphinstone College premises be used (during morning hours) for initial classes of Jaihind College. The proposal was accepted and admission started for the Arts Faculty in June 1948, with a formal inauguration in September 1948 at the Elphinstone College Library Hall.

The Sir J. J. School of Arts was founded in 1857 and was instituted to offer drawing classes. Initial classes were held at Elphinstone Institution.

Academics
Elphinstone College Mumbai
Elphinstone College, c. 1905

Elphinstone College, like many other colleges of Mumbai, constitutes two academic entities: Senior and Junior colleges.

Senior college is affiliated to University of Mumbai and imparts education leading to bachelor's degrees while Junior college is monitored by HSC Board and provides higher secondary education.

Courses offered

Senior college

Junior college

Facilities

Noteworthy features

Legacy

The legacy of the college as a center of excellence was unparalleled in western India. During British rule, it was most coveted among colleges, standing alongside Presidency Colleges of Calcutta and Madras. However, post independence its standards declined and more so in the recent times. This is generally attributed to government negligence and red tapism. The college was an important center of radical left sympathies during the 1970s decade: and produced leaders for this movement.[3]

Heritage College building

The college building, with its Gothic architecture, has been classified as a grade 1 heritage structure. It is one of the most identified buildings of South Mumbai as a symbol British Raj heritage.

Locally, the college is famous for its Romanesque Transitional style building that has been categorized as Grade I Heritage structure. The building was designed by Trubshaw, supervised by Khan Bahadur Muncherjee Murzban, and completed in 1888.[4]

Festivals

Maharashtrotsav

Maharashtrotsav is a National Level Inter College Cultural Festival organized by all the students and faculties of Elphinstone College.

Maharashtrotsav 2011-12 gathered a crowd of more than 75 colleges with nearly 2500 students which was the then a State Level Event. 2012-13 marked a huge progress in its type making it National Level Festival with nearly 5000 students from more than 130 colleges across India.

Maharashtrotsav promises to be a launch pad for new talents who are lost in the shadow of big names. This event shall bring them into the limelight and be a milestone in their path of glamour world. Maharashtrotsav is a budding event planned to cater to all those who intend to prove their talent through their extraordinary skills. It is a phenomenon which brings together untapped talents on one platform with the basic aim and spirit to promote Culture, Harmony and Talent.

TechTsar Logo

TechTsar

TechTsar started back in 2009, with a budget of INR 75,000, which was contributed by advertisements in the Techtsar brochure and banners. Amongst the notable past sponsors are Bank of Maharashtra, Dena Bank, Airtel, etc.

The name of the festival was inspired by two words: technology [tech] and king [tsar] and was proposed by Elphinstone College alumni Rohan Bhambhani. The motto is "Merging Talent with Technology." The festival consists of many events such C and Java debugging, LAN gaming, quiz, debate, photography, logo designing, grand prix, treasure hunt etc. Students from many colleges across Mumbai, Thane, and Navi Mumbai participate. The festival takes place in the final week of November. Currently in its second year it was even more successful than the previous year with a huge rise in participants.

Primers

The Biotechnology Department organizes the festival known as Primers. It started in 2009. The festival consists of seminars by well-known speakers and continued by events in which the students of colleges of Mumbai and Thane participate.

In 2010 the students had organized a job fair for all the college students with free entry and are concluding the event with a fashion show.

The students of F.Y., S.Y., and T.Y. Biotechnology together work very hard for the success of this event.

Location

The college is located in the Kala Ghoda area of South Mumbai. Several landmarks, business districts and waters of Arabian Sea are at close by.

The college is easily accessible by train (from Churchgate and CST) and bus.

The well-known Jehangir Art Gallery is across the street as entrance to the Museum.

Notable alumni
Jamsetji Tata, an alumnus of Elphinstone College
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See also

References
  1. "Dr Homi Bhabha University: Admissions to first cluster university in state from this year". The Indian Express. 16 May 2019. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
  2. Ramachandran Venkatesh. "Elphinstone College (I), Mumbai, India, by James Trubshawe". Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  3. Gargi Gupta (21 February 2016). "JNU Row: The volatile history of student protests across the world". Daily News and Analysis. Retrieved 27 January 2017. In the 1970s, Elphinstone College in Mumbai was an important centre of radical-left sympathies – many of whom built careers on ideologies they imbibed as students.
  4. Linah Baliga (2 January 2009). "Heritage buildings to be restored to former glory". Daily News and Analysis. Retrieved 27 January 2017. Elphinstone College A Romanesque transition style, it was designed by Trubshaw, supervised by Khan Bahadur Muncherjee Murzban, and completed in 1888. The building is a Grade I listed structure.Established in 1824, Elphinstone is one of the oldest colleges in Bombay. Its alumni are among the greatest names of the Indian Nationalist Movement, strongly establishing the institution’s contribution towards shaping the history of India. The structure will receive anti-termite treatment, new flooring, new Gothic revival details to the parapets, new paving in the courtyard and around the building, renovated toilets, re-plastering where essential and RCC repairs.Repairs to existing windows and doors, new weather sheds on the rear and in the courtyard and weld mesh shutters will also be carried out.Stone facades will be cleaned, paint scraped off from stone, wooden surfaces painted and polished. Defective pipes will also be changed.
  5. Judges Biography: P. N. Bhagwati Archived 10 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine Supreme Court of India
  6. Roger Oldfield - Outrage: The Edalji Five and the Shadow of Sherlock Holmes, Vanguard Press
  7. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 21 August 2016. Retrieved 30 July 2016.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. "Artise Profile :Shernaz Patel". mumbaitheatreguide.
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