University of Allahabad

The University of Allahabad is a public central university located in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India. Established on 23 September 1887, it is one of the oldest modern university in India.[1] Its origins lie in the Muir Central College, named after Lt. Governor of North-Western Provinces, Sir William Muir in 1876, who suggested the idea of a Central University at Allahabad, which later evolved to the present university.[2][3] At one point it was called the "Oxford of the East".[4] In its Central University status was restored through the University of Allahabad Act 2005 of the Parliament of India.

University of Allahabad
Seal of the University of Allahabad
MottoLatin: "Quot Rami Tot Arbores"
Motto in English
'As Many Branches So Many Trees'
TypePublic
Established1887 (1887)
ChancellorGoverdhan Mehta
Vice-ChancellorSangeeta Shrivastava
RectorGovernor of Uttar Pradesh
VisitorPresident of India
Postgraduates1320
Location
Allahabad
,
Uttar Pradesh
,
India
CampusUrban
Colours  
AffiliationsUGC

AIU

ACU

NAAC
MascotBanyan
Websitewww.allduniv.ac.in

History
Muir Central College, now part of Faculty of Science

The foundation stone of the Muir Central College was laid by Governor-General of India, Lord Northbrook on 9 December 1873. The college was named after Sir William Muir, Lt. Governor of United Province, who was instrumental in its foundation. The building was designed by William Emerson, who also designed Victoria Memorial in Kolkata and Crawford Market in Mumbai in a combination of Indo-Saracenic, Egyptian and Gothic styles.[5]

Initially it functioned under the University of Calcutta and later, on 23 September 1887, the University of Allahabad was established, making it the fifth university established in colonial India after Calcutta university, Bombay university, Madras university and Lahore's Punjab university.

It began as an affiliating and examining body for graduate and postgraduate degrees with a classical orientation and the responsibility for secondary education as well. Between 1891 and 1922, Government Science College, Jabalpur, the oldest science college of India was affiliated to the university. By 1904 the university established its own teaching departments and instituted doctoral research programs. The University Senate hall was opened by the Lieutenant-Governor, Sir John Hewett, in 1912.

1921, with the promulgation of the 'Allahabad University Act of 1921', the Muir Central College merged with the university, which was reorganised as a unitary teaching and residential university. Over the next few years its affiliated colleges were transferred to Agra University and the task of conducting secondary-level examinations was relocated.

Aerial view of Senate Hall, University of Allahabad

In 1951, the university (while maintaining its fundamental unitary character) recognised certain local institutions as Associated Colleges authorised to teach undergraduate courses under the faculties of Arts, Commerce, Science, and Law.

The university has had on its rolls a host of politicians and statesmen including one president and two vice-presidents of India, two former prime ministers, several union and state ministers, at least four chief justices of the Supreme Court, besides a large number of senior bureaucrats.

In view of these achievements, as well as its position among the universities of Uttar Pradesh, the state government accorded it formal recognition in July 1992 as a ‘Premier Institution’ (Vishesh Agrani Sanstha). During the university's centenary celebrations in 1987 there were demands from students, faculty and employees for the granting of status as a Central University.

In 2003 the union cabinet decided to restore the central universality status to the university.[6] This central university status was finally restored in 2005, through The University of Allahabad Act of the Parliament of India, which also declared the university an Institution of National Importance.[7]

It has been accredited by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council.[8]

Campus

The campus is spread around the city of Allahabad across the area of Old Katra. It consists of major 5 faculties namely Science, Arts, commerce, law, management Faculties with the arts faculty housing the Administrative Block to Chatham Lines. It has numerous residential hostels for students.

Organisation and administration

Governance

The President of India is the Visitor and the Governor of Uttar Pradesh is the Chief Rector of the University. The Chancellor is the ceremonial head of the university while the executive powers rest with the Vice-chancellor. The Court, the Executive Council, the Academic Council, the Board of faculties and the Finance Committee are the administrative authorities of the University.

The University Court is the supreme authority of the University and has the power to review, the broad policies and programmes of the University and to suggest measures for the improvement and development of the University; The Executive Council is the highest executive body of the University. The Academic Council is the highest academic body of the University and is responsible for the co-ordination and exercising general supervision over the academic policies of the University. It has the right to advise the Executive Council on all academic matters. The Finance Committee is responsible for recommending financial policies, goals, and budgets. [9]

In November 2020, Professor Sangita Srivastava was appointed as the new regular vice chancellor of Allahabad University. She was the first woman chosen for this post at the University. [10]

Colleges

The following colleges are constituent to Allahabad University:

  • Allahabad Degree College
  • Arya Kanya Degree College
  • Chaudhary Mahadeo Prasad Post Graduate College
  • Ewing Christian College (Autonomous Minority College)
  • Govind Ballabh Pant Social Science Institute
  • Hamidia Girls' Degree College
  • Ishwar Saran Degree College
  • Jagat Taran Girls' Degree College
  • K.P Training College
  • Rajarshi Tandon Girls' Degree College
  • S.S. Khanna Girls Degree College
  • S.P.M. Govt. Degree College

Affiliation: acceptance and revocation

There was much controversy related to the merger of the Motilal Nehru Medical College with the University. This has been resolved. The Honorable High Court of Allahabad passed an order directing that integration of the medical college with the university be completed by 1 October 2006. The affiliation of the S. P. Mukherjee Government Degree College with the University has also been resolved. Now its affiliated to the University.

Harish Chandra Research Institute of Mathematics and Mathematical Physics, Allahabad and Kamla Nehru Post-Graduate Medical Institute, Allahabad have sought to revoke their affiliation from the university. The same has been endorsed by the Executive Council of the University. (Further action in this matter would be taken once the president of India, the visitor of the university, gives his consent to the recommendation of the University's Executive Council.)

Academic profile

Rankings
University rankings
General – international
QS (Asia) (2020)[11]401–450

Allahabad University has been accessed and accredited to grade "B++" by NAAC with a score of 2.84 CGPA. [12] The university was ranked 401–450 in Asia by the QS World University Rankings of 2020.[11]

Notable alumni and faculties
Main articles: List of University of Allahabad alumni and List of Vice-chancellors of the University of Allahabad

References
  1. Handbook of Universities, Volume 1. Atlantic Publishers & Dist. 1 January 2006. p. 17. ISBN 81-269-0607-3. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
  2. Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Muir, Sir William" . Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. "In 1885 he was elected principal of Edinburgh University"
  3. History Archived 25 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine Allahabad University website.
  4. Allahabad Varsity to become a central university The Times of India, 11 May 2005.
  5. Muir College The Hindu, 9 June 2006.
  6. "Allahabad University gets Central status | India News - Times of India". The Times of India. 7 November 2003. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  7. "University of Allahabad Act, 2005". Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  8. "AU's 10-year-long wait for NAAC accreditation ends, retains 'B++' rating". The Times of India. 5 April 2019. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  9. "Allahabad University Act".
  10. "Prof Sangita Srivastava appointed first woman VC of Allahabad University". Hindustan Times. 30 November 2020. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  11. "QS Asia University Rankings 2020". QS Quacquarelli Symonds Limited. 2020.
  12. https://www.allduniv.ac.in/upload/others/files/NIRF_2020.pdf
  13. "Who was Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, freedom fighter and educationist". The Indian Express. 25 December 2019. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  14. Mohanty, Basant Kumar (5 February 2019). "Yogi govt moves to rename Allahabad University". The Telegraph. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  15. "Ranganath Mishra passes away". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 24 January 2021.

Further reading
  • The Muir Central College, Allahabad: its origin, foundation, and completion, by William Henry Wright, published in 1985, Govt. Press, North-Western Provinces and Oudh (Allahabad).
  • Materials and Motifs of the Philosophical Traditions of Allahabad University, by Sangam Lal Pandey. Published by Ram Nath Kaul Library of Philosophy, University of Allahabad, 1981.
  • Hundred years of Allahabad University, by Moti Lal Bhargava. Published by Ashish Pub. House, 1987. ISBN 81-7024-162-6.

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