Tanka Ram Sharma*, Clarence Simick*, Shyam Sunder Pradhan* , Lawang Yolmo, Rajiva Shanker Shresta (Standing from left) Squatting - Kesang Tsering*, Dhan Singh Moktanm ?, Ganga Bahadur Chettri* - 1962 * sign for those deceased 2023.
FROM GOLD TURNS PLATINUM
DARJEELING GOVERNMENT COLLEGE - A TRIBUTE
Our Alma mater Darjeeling Government College turns 75 this month on 5th August 2023. It would be worthwhile here to open this tribute of mine with a “Short History of its Establishment and Development – Darjeeling Government College owes its origin to insistent local demand for an institution imparting higher education to meet the needs of the educationally backward hill tribes. Although primarily meant for boys and girls belonging to the hill-tribes, students belonging to other communities will be admitted, if accommodation is available. The spacious buildings of the former St. Michael’s School on the Cart Road, Darjeeling were requisitioned by the Government of West Bengal for the purpose, and the Intermediate Classes in Arts and Science were opened in August, 1948. It was raised in 1950 to a first grade Arts and Science College with Honours Courses in some important subjects.” Sourced ‘University of Calcutta in The Calendar 1956 Part I, Page 1976 No. 59, Darjeeling Government College, Darjeeling, West Bengal. (Published in 1958) First Affiliation, 1948.’ Further to it, The Statesman Thursday, August 5, 1948 gave the news captioned “College for Hill Tribes at Darjeeling that “…For the present the college will be in the building of the now defunct St. Michael’s School … Teaching will be provided for te present up to the Intermediate Standard in English, Sanskrit, Pali, Nepali, Bengali, Logic, History, Civics, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Botany and Biology. Admission to the first year classes in Arts and Science will commence immediately,. There will be no second year class during the current session….” C. Rajagopalachari was the First Governor of West Bengal while Dr. S. K. Majumdar the Founder Principal.
Without wasting time, straight into the crux of the matter, would be of interest to recapitulate here my days rather years from 1962 – 1969 that was mentioned as the Golden Era though it was celebrating much later in my article for the souvenir on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of Darjeeling Government College. Prof. Ram Lal Adhikari requested an article from me while visiting one Sunday afternoon at our Government Quarters 8-Unit Building, Development Area in 1997. Did not know the fate whether this Souvenir or even my reminiscences given was as such published at all. Perchance when in Siliguri for bringing out my book The Newars World~Wide – Connecting the Dots : Sikkim in 2016 I came across it when checking the works earlier done by the Press. Owner was kind enough to gift me the copy there knowing about my story Darjeeling Sarkari College - Ek Swarnim Yug carried in the souvenir Darjeeling Sarkari Mahavidyalaya – Sthapanako Ardhashatabdi. This too was after two decades since it was published long back in February 2001!
Without wasting time, straight into the crux of the matter, would be of interest to recapitulate here my days rather years from 1962 – 1969 that was mentioned as the Golden Era though it was celebrating much later in my article for the souvenir on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of Darjeeling Government College. Prof. Ram Lal Adhikari requested an article from me while visiting one Sunday afternoon at our Government Quarters 8-Unit Building, Development Area in 1997. Did not know the fate whether this Souvenir or even my reminiscences given was as such published at all. Perchance when in Siliguri for bringing out my book The Newars World~Wide – Connecting the Dots : Sikkim in 2016 I came across it when checking the works earlier done by the Press. Owner was kind enough to gift me the copy there knowing about my story Darjeeling Sarkari College - Ek Swarnim Yug carried in the souvenir Darjeeling Sarkari Mahavidyalaya – Sthapanako Ardhashatabdi. This too was after two decades since it was published long back in February 2001!
RSS Feed
