Midnapore College, established in 1873 under the affiliation of Calcutta University and with the status of Govt. Sponsored College in 1956, is the oldest and most renowned of all the colleges in the undivided district of Midnapore. It played the pioneering role in the spread of higher education and also in the Freedom Movement of the Country. The past of the college is a saga of meritorious services to all walks of life. Under the aegis of the British Government the college began disseminating Western Education in the interest of rational and scientific education which was led by Raja Rammohan Roy. The college became a part and parcel of Bengal Renaissance. In 1985 the college’s affiliation changed from Calcutta University to Vidyasagar University.

             a)      Midnapore College’s role in the spread of higher education 

                  1)      Formal Education : introduced fourteen conventional subjects for basic knowledge in those subjects, became a part of Bengal Renaissance.

                  2)      Non-Formal Education : took initiative to run IGNOU Study Centre for Distance Education, permitted to run Vidyasagar Evening School for aged, uneducated men and women, hosted Indian Association of Physics Teachers for Science Culture sponsored by Ministry of Human Resources Development, Govt. of India, established N.C.Rana Sky Observation Centre for the study of astronomy and computer Centre in collaboration with the Institute of Engineers for Computer Education; opened Biggyan Mancha for expansion of knowledge in Science.

              b)      Role in the Freedom Movement : High-spirited promising students of this college (i)Dinesh Gupta, (ii) Prodyot Kumar Bhattacharya, (iii) Mrigendra Nath Dutta, (iv) Braja Kishore Chakraborty, (v) Nirmal Jiban Ghosh became student martyrs for the cause of the country from 1928 to 1934; the college was recognized as “breeding ground of freedom fighters”. 

c)      Social activities : Raised fund for sending help to the earthquake affected people of Gujrat, flood-affected people of West Bengal, helped to establish Commerce College in 1967, Law College in 2001 and Vidyasagar University in 1985 in the district, National Integrity Camp of NSS in involving the participants of different Universities of the country.                                  

d)      Administration : participatory management

e)      Alumni :  Alumni are its pride.   They blaze the trail of College’s glory by serving the nation as teachers, doctors, scientists, lawyers, scholars, ministers, social workers in and outside the country.

            For academic and administrative evaluation the report has been prepared with the help of all teaching and non-teaching staff of the college. For the regular and prompt collection of all information required for Criterion-wise report Steering Committee of eight members was formed. In a general meeting seven sub-committees criterion-wise were formed with the members of teaching and non-teaching staff. Besides these, other staff members also extended their help and cooperation in preparation of the Self-Study Report. The list of those individuals and groups involved in the process is enclosed herewith.

                  MIDNAPORE COLLEGE AT A GLANCE:-  

     *      Midnapore College has stepped into 132 years of its eventful existence in 2004.

     *     It was started in 1834 as a private school, converted into Zilla school in 1840 and ultimately raised to     the status of a Degree College in 1873 under the affiliation of Calcutta University.

     *     It was raised to the status of Government Sponsored College in 1956.

     *    Morning Section was opened in 1967-68 to accommodate a large number of students seeking higher education.

     *     In 1985 the college was affiliated to Vidyasagar University as per Government Policy to include all colleges of the Midnapore District under Vidyasagar University.

    *   Midnapore College now a ‘Centre of Excellence’ for study in Honours and General Courses in the Undergraduate level.

     *      Honours course offered in 17 subjects :

    *     Physics, Chemistry, Botany, Zoology, Physiology, Mathematics, Economics, English, Bengali, History, Philosophy, Political Science, Sanskrit, Geography, Computer Science, B.C.A. and Statistics.

     *     Physical Education taught as General Course subject.

     *     Sanctioned Teaching Post – 95.

     *     Technical Staff – 21.

     *     Non-teaching staff – 82.

     *     Area of College campus – 13^.59 acre.

    *     Infrastructural facilities – Large five buildings with classrooms, 29 laboratories, Boys’ Common room,      Girls’ Common room, Boys’ Hostel, Girls’ Hostel, Playground and Gymnasium, Students’ canteen.

     *     Library facilities :      Open from 6-30 A.M. to 5-00 P.M. More than 48,000 books. Old journals (80) & new (5).

     *    Academic Activities :      Class Tests, Seminars, group discussion, Half-yearly, Annual, Test Examinations held regularly. Academic Excursion arranged, P.N.Ghosh Lecture Series held regularly.

     *    Extra curricular activities : Cultural Competitions, Participation of students in essay, quiz competitions,     Outdoor games like Football, Volleyball, Cricket, Badminton and Indoor games like Carrom, Table Tennis etc held in the college playground.

      *     Achievements in sports : Often Champion in State, District and University levels.

     *      Results:                           High success rate in the University examinations & securing often 1st, 2nd and 3rd positions in different subjects.

     *     Other Facilities:                Indian Association of Physics Teachers (IAPT), Midnapore College Computer Centre, IGNOU, N.C. Rana Sky Observation Centre, NSS activities, Students’ Health Home.

   *      Students’ support:       Students’ Union, Alumni Association, Departmental Reunion, Stipends,        Scholarship, Medals awarded.

CONTRIBUTION  OF  MIDNAPORE  COLLEGE  IN  BUILDING     THE NATION:-      

Midnapore College contributed to the success of Indian Freedom Movement.

u      Higher-spirited promising young students of the college,

O   Dinesh Gupta (1928-29)

O   Pradyot Kumar Bhattacharya (1932-33)

O   Mrigendranath Dutta (1933-34)

O   Braja Kishore Chakraborty (1933-34)

O       Nirmal Jiban Ghosh (1933-34)

became martyrs(Shahids) from 1928 to 1934. They became Student- Martyrs.

       u Three teachers of the College – Tarak Das Ghosh, Thakopada Biswas and Binoy Jiban Ghosh – were dismissed from service for their involvement in the Freedom Movement during 1933.

       u      Teachers and staff served the College selflessly without any pay in the crisis period during 1933-34.

       u      The College came out of crisis under the able stewardship of Principal B.D.Banerjee (1935-50).

       u      Haricharan Mukherjee, the freedom fighter, became the Principal(offg.) of the College in 1951.

       u      Midnapore College helped in establishing a separate Commerce College in 1959 and a Law College in 2002 initially in its own campus and then those colleges shifted to their own campuses.

       u      It allows its buildings to be used by the Govt. and the society for holding election, examination, seminar, workshop, cultural programme.

       u      By launching various social welfare activities through N.S.S., it always takes a pioneering role of serving the society.

       u      It always emphasizes national harmony. It successfully organized National Integrity Camp of NSS in 1992 involving the participation of different Universities of the country.

            By opening its own unit of Biggyan Mancha (An Association for expansion of science culture among masses), it has been endeavouring to lift the veil of conventions and superstitions from the masses.                           

                                                   SUMMARY                             

                  The goals and objectives of Midnapore College as reflected in its curricular activities and different programmes give evidence of its accountability in every respect. Either in disseminating education or in arousing patriotic feelings or in meeting various challenges from different corners, it goes ahead with its own objectives by traversing through various obstacles. Imparting education in as many as eighteen subjects it shows its excellence in its performances. The alumni of the College are its pride, for they show their efficiency in their positions. The number of students increasing year after year shows its potentiality. The mutual understanding among teaching, non-teaching staff and students help in the rapid improvement of the college. Its infrastructural facilities keep pace with the academic growth of the institution. The college displays sensibility to changing educational, social and market demands and promotes an ambience of creativity and innovations. It provides a variety of opportunities in the current fields of expertise. A variety of programmes and activities suggested in criterion-wise report encourages and supports development opportunities.

             The college has specific plans for achieving greater efficiency, accountability and quality in all spheres of activity. It has a particular aim to be a Research Centre for all subjects, specially Physics. On the basis of performances and infrastructural facilities available the State Council of Higher Education has identified this college in 1997 eligible for opening Post Graduate Courses. It is expected that the University authority will permit this college to start Post-Graduate classes in Physics and Chemistry from the session 2004-2005. The University Grants Commission has identified this college, along with some other twelve colleges of the state, fit for granting Autonomous Status. The State Government also has decided to make it Lead College.