Maulana Azad College


Maulana Azad College is a premier institute of liberal arts, commerce and science in India, located in central Kolkata, West Bengal, India. The college is fully government-administered. It is located near the junction of Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Road and SN Banerjee Road, popularly called "Lotus crossing". It is affiliated to the University of Calcutta. The college offers numerous courses in Islamic languages like Urdu, Arabic and Persian. The college offers both post-graduate and under-graduate courses in a number of subjects in the three streams of arts, science and commerce. However, the arts stream is the largest in terms of number of students in both the honours and general courses. Both male and female students study in the college. It is accredited an grade by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council.
Maulana Azad College has witnessed footsteps of eminent scholarly dedicated teachers like Bishnu Dey, Professor of English. The college has produced distinguished and notable nationalists, politicians, educationists, judges, ministers, novelists, IAS, IPS and WBCS officers.

History

Maulana Azad College was founded on 9 December 1926 by Victor Bulwer-Lytton, 2nd Earl of Lytton, then Governor of Bengal. It was originally called Islamia College. The institution was the culmination of efforts of notable Muslim leaders like A. K. Fazlul Huq, Syed Nawab Ali Chowdhury and Sir Abdul Rahim.
With an objective to promote Islamic learning and general education among the Muslim population in British India and with the sustained efforts of contemporary education minister of Bengal, A. K. Fazlul Haque, on 9 December 1924, Lord Lytton, the contemporary Governor of Bengal laid the foundation stone of Islamia College under the affiliation of University of Calcutta. The journey started under the leadership of The Principal, Mr. A. H. Harley, formerly, faculty of Oriental Languages, Edinburg University, UK.
Post-independence, the college was renamed as Central Calcutta College and generously moved beyond religious barrier and was open for all male students. The leadership responsibility was rendered by Professor F. J. F. Pereira.
In 1960, the final baptism held as Maulana Azad College in the memory of the great national leader, erudite scholar and the first education minister of the independent India-Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. In 1990, the college was declared as co-educational institution. Gradually, the institution evolved as an academic place of harmonious co-existence amidst the plurality of gender, language, culture and religion.

Courses

The college offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses in arts, commerce and science in various streams. These are: B.A, B.A, B.Com, B.Sc at UG level. And M.A and M.Sc at the PG level. The fees are also nominal lying around ₹1,000/year for UG courses and around ₹4,000/year for PG courses.

Admission Procedure and Cutoffs

The college has an online application process for all its courses. Admission into undergraduate courses are merit-based. While that of postgraduate courses is done by both merit as well as an admission test.
The 12th Class Finals cutoff percentage lies at around ~90%, but may vary a little under some conditions.

Accommodation

Baker Government Boys' Hostel is situated nearby. It includes many amenities like a library, PCs, health care, gym and a mosque for students. Although only Muslim students can apply for the hostel, students from other religions can stay in paying guests nearby. A girls' hostel is also expected to be made soon.

Notable alumni