St. Stephen's College, Delhi

The history of St. Stephen's College can be traced to St. Stephen's High School, founded in 1854 by the Reverend Samuel Scott Allnutt, Chaplain of Delhi, run by the Delhi Mission of the United Society. With the closure of Government College, Delhi in 1879 because of financial problems, Reverend Thomas Valpy French, immediately urged the Cambridge Mission, an Anglican mission organised by the alumni of University of Cambridge, to fill the breach.[9] The other major aim for the foundation of the college was response to British Indian Government's policy of promoting English education in India.[10] It was the Reverend Samuel Scott Allnutt of St. John's College, Cambridge, who was mainly responsible for founding the college. Finally on 1 February 1881, in support of the work of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, the Cambridge Brotherhood founded the St. Stephen's College. The Reverend Samuel Scott Allnutt served as its first principal.[11]

The college's first premises were in Chandni Chowk, Delhi with 5 boarders and three professors, and was an affiliate of the University of Calcutta,[12] but later in 1882, it changed its affiliation to Punjab University. The Punjab University received its charter more than one year after the founding of St. Stephen's College, which became one of the two institutions first affiliated to it and moved into premises in Kashmiri Gate, Delhi.[13]

In 1906, Principal The Rev. G. Hibbert Ware abdicated his post in favour of Susil Kumar Rudra who became the first Indian to head a major educational institution in India. The decision was frowned upon at the time, but Principal Susil Kumar Rudra proved to have a tenure of extraordinary importance for the college.[14]

Reverend C. F. Andrews, a prominent lecturer at the college and member of the Cambridge Brotherhood, was active in the Indian independence movement, and was named 'Deenbandhu' (which means, friend of the poor) by Mahatma Gandhi on account of his work with the needy and with the trade union movement. Currently, a portrait of Reverend C. F. Andrews is hung beside the portrait of his good friend Rabindranath Tagore in the Principal's office. It is also believed that Rabindranath Tagore completed the English translation of 'Gitanjali', for which he was subsequently awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, while a guest at the college.[9]

With the establishment of the University of Delhi in 1922, the college became a constituent college of the University.[15]

Women were first admitted in 1928, as there were no women's colleges in Delhi affiliated with the Anglican Church at the time; after the founding of Miranda House in 1949, women were not accepted as students until 1975.[16]

The badge is a martyr's crown on a field of martyr's red within a five-pointed star edged with Cambridge blue. The five-pointed star represents India, the Cambridge blue border of star represents the impact of University of Cambridge on the college, having been founded by the members of the Cambridge Mission to Delhi and the ground is coloured red to represent Saint Stephen, the first Christian martyr and Patron Saint of the Anglican Mission in Delhi, in whose memory the college is built, stands the martyr's crown in gold.

St. Stephen's College is a co-educational institution of higher learning. It is regarded as one of the best colleges in the country. Nationwide surveys such as those by India Today and The Week have consistently described the college as amongst the best colleges in India for both arts and sciences.[20][21][22][23] It is one of the three founding colleges of University of Delhi, along with Hindu College and Ramjas College.[24] In spite of its location in North India, the college has always striven to admit students and select teachers from all communities and from all parts of India. It also admits a small number of students from overseas. The college offers a number of scholarships and awards to meritorious students. These are endowed over a period of time.[25][26] As of February 2017, the Governing Body (GB) of St. Stephen's College has decided to go ahead with the proposal to seek autonomy for the institution.[27]

Church inside Saint Stephens College

The college is currently situated on a large and well-known campus in Delhi. Its campus is located in the North Campus of the University of Delhi and designed by the distinguished Welsh architect Walter Sykes George. The construction work was completed in 1941.[28] The college had previously functioned from a campus in Kashmiri Gate, Delhi, housed in distinctive Indo-Saracenic Revival architecture. This building now houses the Election Commission of Delhi. In fact, some college playing fields are still located between Kashmiri Gate and Mori Gate.[13] Facilities for a number of sports are provided for on the college campus. The Francis Monk Gymnasium, the Ladies Common Room, and the Junior Common Room provide facilities for indoor sports and recreation. A chapel is open to all members for worship and meditation.[9] The campus is one of the most beautiful buildings in Delhi University and the diverse, multi-cultural student body makes it very lively.[29]

North Campus of the University of Delhi

Alumni and students of St. Stephen's College are called 'Stephanians'. The college has produced many distinguished alumni, including several Members of Indian Parliament and the Presidents of three countries and is one of the largest contributors to Indian Rhodes Scholars. At one point in the 1970s two-thirds of all secretary-level positions in the IAS were occupied by Stephanians. Four of the thirteen top global firms are currently headed by Stephanians, which is the most by any single institution.[39] Stephanians have some of the largest industry incomes despite the college not offering any specialised engineering or management programmes. St. Stephen's has also contributed a large number of eminent jurists including Supreme Court justices and lawyers. Students from St. Stephen's also make up a significant proportion of scientists at top Indian research labs at TIFR and NCBS among others and abroad. Stephanians also have a high acceptance rate in highly reputed institutions of the world like cambridge and oxford universities.[40]

• Official website
• Not So Stephanian