DBT STAR College Scheme

BACKGROUND

The Star College Scheme was initiated by DBT in 2008 to support colleges and universities offering undergraduate education to improve science teaching across the country. This Scheme was launched for improving critical thinking and encouraging ‘hands on’ experimental science at undergraduate level in basic science subjects. On a larger perspective, the scheme was initiated envisioning that it shall encourage more students to take up higher education in science. Through this scheme the Department identifies colleges with potential for excellence and provides support for developing infrastructure for academics and laboratory activities. This Star College Scheme acts as a gateway and provides exposure to students about other schemes of the Department (and the GOI) to support higher education (post graduate level), graduate research (Ph.D), post-doctoral research, international exchange programs, short term industry-oriented training courses in science. The scheme also acts as a catalyst in igniting young minds (faculty and students) to engage in networking, exposure visits to research institutes and industries and apply for research grants in order to prepare them for future challenges after the successful completion of their undergraduate courses.

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OBJECTIVES

To strengthen the academic and physical infrastructure for achieving excellence in teaching and training
To enhance the quality of the learning and teaching process to stimulate original thinking through
hands–on exposure to experimental work and participation in summer schools
To provide better library facility to students and teachers
To promote networking and strengthen ties with neighboring institutions and other laboratories
To conduct specialized training programs for faculty improvement for optimizing technical capabilities
To increase capabilities of core instrumentation resources by procuring new equipment and upgrading existing facilities
To provide access and exposure to students to research laboratories and industries in the country
To help in devising standard curricula and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s)/kits for practical.

SURENDRANATH COLLEGE AT A GLANCE

Surendranath College is located at the heart of Kolkata and is one of the most sought after colleges among the students coming from the outskirts of Kolkata. The well connectivity of the College, which is connected to Sealdah Station on the one hand and College Street, the 200 year old largest second-hand book market in the world and the largest in India, on the other hand makes it easier for the students to commute and connect. The two premier institutions of India, the University of Calcutta and the Presidency University are located within a stone’s throw away from the college.

In 1882 Surendranath Banerjea, an eminent scholar, orator, and statesman and one of the pioneers of India’s struggle for self-government and freedom, took over the charge of Presidency School. In January 1884, it was renamed Presidency Institution and became affiliated to the Intermediate Standard of the University of Calcutta. Later in the same year, with permission from Lord Ripon, it was renamed as Ripon College and became a full-fledged degree College under the University of Calcutta. Surendranath Banerjea himself taught in the College for many years with rare distinction. Under his inspiring guidance a generation of students grew up with sacrifice and idealism as their guiding principles. Around him gathered some of the most distinguished scholars and intellectuals of the time and Ripon College soon came to be counted among the reputed seats of learning in the country. In 1885, the Department of Law was started. It was converted into a separate College in 1911 and it was named Ripon Law College. The Department of Commerce was established in 1940. A branch of this College was opened in Dinajpur (now a separate College in Bangladesh) in 1942. The trustees, to keep pace with the changing needs of the time, opened an evening Science section in 1947 and a women’s section in 1948 as well. The former is now a part of Surendranath Evening College, and the later became an independent Degree College in 1960. In 1948-49, the Trustees renamed the College as Surendranath College as a mark of respect to the founder of the institution and author of A Nation in Making.

The College was recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC) in 1972. Standing amidst the din and bustle of one of the busiest thoroughfares of Calcutta, the College has been a witness at close quarters to various ups and downs in the social and political history. In its career of more than a hundred years it has had to pass through both fair and foul, sunshine and rough weather. Its students welcomed Swami Vivekananda along with others with spectacular enthusiasm on his historic arrival at Calcutta in 1897 after his great success and triumph in the West. On reaching the city from Chicago, Swamiji was accorded a reception worthy of a king at Ripon College. It was at Ripon College that Gandhiji put up in the company of others when he came to the plenary session of the Indian National Congress in Calcutta in 1901. This was his first experience of attending such an important gathering in India.

In 1911, Rabindranath Tagore read out at Ripon College one of his great essays dealing with the twin subjects of separatism to be found among many of our countrymen and national integration. It may be mentioned in passing that he referred in one of his novels to the courage and patriotism of the students of Ripon College. Both during the freedom movement and in recent time’s students of Ripon/ Surendranath College never failed to give a good account of them whenever there was a call to serve the country’s cause or to register their protests against injustice, tyranny and aggression. This tradition of Ripon/Surendranath College is a priceless legacy handed down by its founder Surendranath Banerjea and others. Since inception, the College is trying to maintain its tradition of self-reliance in the context of spreading education among all sections of the society so as to enable its students to become worthy citizens of our country by introducing modern subjects with necessary infrastructural facilities with a view to updating education as per requirements of the employment houses and higher studies as well and also, to provide the students with quality education with all round humane values and necessary skills. We look forward to our institution growing into a premier institute of learning in the days to come.

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SURENDRANATH COLLEGE UNDER DBT-STAR COLLEGE SCHEME

Surendranath College, Kolkata was included 5th March, 2020 onwards under this scheme with sanction order no. BT/HRD/11/031/2020 dated 13.03.2020. Four basic science departments - Botany, Chemistry, Physics and Zoology of this College are covered under this scheme.

Total grant sanctioned under this scheme: 82.00 Lakhs

Non-Recurring (Equipment) - 10.00 lakhs per dept. ---- Total 40.00 lakhs
Recurring - 3.00 lakhs per year to all four depts. --- Total 36.00 lakhs
Travel Grant - 1.00 lakh per year to all four depts. --- Total 3.00 lakhs
Contingency - 1.00 lakh per year to all four depts. --- Total 3.00 lakhs

Total grant received during the period of support (up to 31/3/2022): 54.00 Lakhs