Pachhunga University College

Busts of Pachhunga and his son Lalhmingthanga near the entrance of PUC.

After the independence of India from the British Empire in 1947, the Mizo people were governed under the Government of Assam as Lushai Hills district. By 1950s, many Mizo people had completed secondary education with no further opportunity. J. Malsawma made the first provocative petition for the establishment of college by writing an open letter titled "Vana Pa College" in MZP Magazine; but to no avail. He and H.K. Bawichhuaka, set up what they called an "Organising Board" at Pachhunga's house in Dawrpui, Aizawl, in 1957. By then, Pachhunga was known as the "most prosperous Mizo businessman" or "the wealthiest man in Mizoram", and he was made Chairman of the board. The board held a public meeting in June 1957 at the Boys’ Middle English School, wherein the public unanimously voted the Deputy Commissioner as Chairman of the board. The Deputy Commissioner then was adamant. In April 1958, Lawrence Singh Ingty from Mikir Hills become the new Deputy Commissioner. Quick to action, Ingty created the first Organising Board under his chairmanship, with Bawichhuaka as the Secretary, Malsawma as the Joint Secretary, and Lalhmingthanga (Pachhunga's son) as the Treasurer. He inaugurated Aijal College on 15 August 1958 (Indian Independence Day) at Aijal Theatre Hall (now Vanapa Hall).[3]

At the behest of Ingty, Brother Godfrey Danis, who at the time was Headmaster of St. Paul's High School, became the first but temporary Principal. The faculty were volunteers and originally comprised a team of Christian missionaries including John Meirion Lloyd, Helen Lowry, G.R. Roberts (Pi Tei) and Father O'Brien, along with educated natives such as Rita Neihpuii, Sangliana, and Malsawma. Classes officially started on 1 September 1958.[8] Initially, classes were conducted at the Theatre Hall itself in the afternoon (which they called Evening Class). Towards the end of 1961, the college moved to an abandoned warehouse at Children's Park. For financial support, Ingty would ask for donation from people applying for arms license.[9] Upon the request of the Organising Board, the Welsh Mission Board (Foreign Mission of the Presbyterian Church of Wales) appointed Rev. Alwyn Roberts as the first regular Principal in November 1960.[10] In 1961, the college became government aided, and received affiliation from Gauhati University.[8]

In 1962, it was renamed Pachhunga Memorial College (PMC) after the philanthropic entrepreneur Pachhunga, he and his family who were outstanding benefactors of the college since its inception. It was relocated to its permanent campus in June 1965. On 1 July 1965, the Assam Government declared provincialisation (official recognition), and the name was once more changed to Pachhunga Memorial Government College (PMGC). Permanent teachers were appointed only in 1967 under the Assam Public Service Commission. UGC granted full recognition in 1969.

When Lushai Hills became a separate Union Territory as Mizoram from Assam in 1972, the management of the college was handed over to the Government of Mizoram. The college was renamed Pachhunga Government College in 1977. The affiliation was transferred to a newly established North Eastern Hill University (NEHU), on 19 April 1979. NEHU incorporated the college administration to its own and made it its only constituent college with a vision to promote it as a "pace-setting institution." Then it was renamed Pachhunga University College (PUC). With the setting up of Mizoram University on 2 July 2001, the authority was once again signed over to the new university; and remain as such ever since.[8]

PUC main gate.

For a start, the degree consisted of only Intermediate of Arts (I.A.; modern equivalent of higher secondary) with five subjects such as English, Civics, Geography, History and Logic. New courses on basic science were instituted in 1973. The faculty of commerce was introduced in 1984, and with this, the college was, and remains, the only institute in Mizoram to offer the three different disciplines. Department of Public Administration was initiated in 2005. From 2012 two new departments such as Biotechnology and Environmental Science were started. In 2018, Bachelor of Business Administration, postgraduate courses in arts and science were started.[11] All courses are conducted with choice-based credit system.[12]

As of 2018, there are 11 bachelor degree courses in arts (English, Economics, Education, Geography, History, Mizo, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Public Administration and Sociology), 9 in science (Biotechnology, Botany, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics and Zoology), 1 each in Commerce and BBA. There are three master's degree courses, M.Sc. in Life Sciences, M.A. in Philosophy, and M.A. in Mizo.[2]

There are 99 permanent teachers, including the Principal. 60.57% of them possess PhD and 12% MPhil in their respective fields. There is 1 Professor, 23 are Associate Professors, and 80 are Assistant Professors. J.V. Hluna became the first Professor in colleges in Mizoram under UGC regulations. There are 71 supporting staff including Assistant Registrar, Section Officer, clerks, peons, drivers and cleaners. There are 25 technical staff including laboratory assistants, mechanic, electrician and carpenters.[14]

Average number of enrollment of students is 2,200 for the past five years, with approximately 850 fresh admission every year. Admission is done through online portal and selection is based on merit in the last board/university examination. Minimum mark required for application to any course is 50% of the total marks in the last examination. More than 95% belong to minority and Scheduled Tribe category. The average annual gender ratio of male to female is 1.1:1.[14]

The college has official organisations for students such as Students' Union, National Service Scheme, National Cadet Corps, and Red Ribbon Club. It offers "Earn While Learn" scheme for students from low-income family to earn their educational expenses. Other independent co-curricular bodies include Cultural Club, Eco Club, Adventure Club, Literature Club, and Chess Club.[14]

Administrative Building.

PUC campus is situated at the eastern side of Aizawl, and covers 138 acres of land.[22] There are five academic buildings, one central library, seven staff quarters, health clinic, counseling centre, NSS/Students’ Union Office, power generator room, ring well, basketball court, volleyball court, and seismological observatory. In addition to classrooms and departmental rooms, Academic Block 1 consists of Student's Recreation Centre and Internet Resource Centre. Academic Block 2 consists of a workshop/maintenance cell. The basement of Academic Block 3 is Language Lab. Science Building consists of IGNOU Centre 1923. Seminar Hall lies adjacent to Science Building and Life Science Building, and the basement is a cafeteria. Research and Instrumentation Centre, Zoological Museum, and Advanced Biotech Hub are at located within Life Science Building.

The administrative building consists of Principal's chamber, establishment cell, finance cell, faculty common room and departmental offices. Multipurpose Auditorium is located at the entrance of the playground. It consists of badminton court. The playground is standard football pitch size, surrounded by concrete pavilion. There are two girls' hostels each having 190 capacity, and two boys' hostel, each with 178 boarders . A free-access Internet Resource Centre, the first of its kind in Mizoram,[23] was established under NER FIST of the Department of Science and Technology. All offices and departmental rooms are linked with internet connectivity through broadband service. All classrooms and laboratories are furnished with fixed LCD projection system since 2012.

Seminar Hall and library behind (left).

Library

PUC library had been one of the best in northeast India; however, the original library was completely burnt down on 4 November 1981.[24] With new building and restoration, it has now collected more than 42,803 general books, 34,242 textbooks, 8,561 reference books, 29 academic journals, and a number of magazines and newspapers available. Reprography and internet access are also available. Library automation has been initiated, and is using INFLIBNET.[25]

Library.

Research centre

Research Centre (ground floor), Biotech Hub (first floor), and Life Sciences classroom (second floor).

There is a Research and Instrumentation Centre at the Zoology Department in which research projects are carried out.[14] It also houses the Advanced Institutional Biotech Hub.

The institution receives research grants from various funding agencies. There have been 23 research projects from UGC, out of which 21 are minor research projects and 2 are major research projects. There are two major research projects in Zoology Department from the Department of Biotechnology. The Department of Science and Technology has given four major research projects and two Women Scientist schemes. Under the Advanced Institutional Biotech Hub, a separate research is conducted.

Mizoram Government (Horticulture Department) had sponsored "Zo Huan". The Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change also had funded research projects on fish diversity and campus conservation. Zoram Educational Trust (ZET) also offers a minor research scheme.[14]

Pachhunga University College Alumni Association (PUCAA) was established in 2007, with P.L. Liandinga as its first President. Among the notable alumni, Lal Thanhawla is one of the most successful politicians and is the longest serving Chief Minister of Mizoram. He has been in office during 1984-1986, 1989-1998, and 2013-2018. He won general elections nine times, in 1978, 1979, 1984, 1987, 1993, 2003, 2008, and 2013.[29][30] Vanlalzawma is also another politician. He had been a teacher at Government Hrangbana College, President of Young Mizo Association (YMA), and Member of Parliament from Mizoram in the 13th Lok Sabha and 14th Lok Sabha. In 2013 election, he became Member of Legislative Assembly of Mizoram and Opposition Leader in the assembly.[31] Laltluangliana Khiangte is a renowned Mizo literary scholar and Professor at Mizoram University. He was Principal of Serampore College and Professor at NEHU. He is the recipient of Pu Buanga Award, the highest literary award of the Mizo Academy of Letters,[32] and Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award in India.[33]

PUC organises a Cultural Day every three years since 2011. On 14 November 2011, the Principal Tawnenga launched it as a commemoration of cultural harmony and as promotion of ethnic awareness among the students and employees. At the event, all staff and students dress up in their own ethnic costumes. Part of the programme, Laisuih Award is given to an individual who has made influential contribution to Mizo literature, particularly through music. The first award was given to V. Thangzama, a traditional musician and composer.[34] In 2015, the award went to singer Lalnunmawia (Valtea).[35] The 2018 award was given to Lalnunsanga, vocalist of a rock band T. Melody from Myanmar.[36]