Ramniranjan Anandilal Podar College of Commerce and Economics

Rāmniranjan Ānandilāl Podār College of Commerce and Economics, popularly known simply as Podar College, is affiliated with the University of Mumbai, Mumbai, India.

The College offers courses in commerce for undergraduate degrees, and the affiliated Wellingkar Institute of Management and Commerce offers postgraduate degrees and postgraduate diplomas in commerce and management.

Location

The College is located in the central part of Mumbai, along a street on the east side of the Central Railway between Dādar and Mātungā railway stations. The College building is of neo-Gothic style.

History

In 1941, Seth Rāmdeoji Ānandilāl Podār provided funds of one hundred and fifty thousand rupees --a substantial sum in those times-- for establishing the College in the memory of his brother, Rāmniranjan Ānandilāl Podār, giving the charge of running the college to the Shikshan Prasārak Mandali. The College was the first private (non-government) commerce college to be started in Mumbai.

The College started to offer B.Com. degree course in 1942. The first batch of students at Podar College consisted of 150 students. There were just three classrooms and a small staff of competent teachers. Gradually, the number of class rooms increased. The main hall and the library appeared in 1947-48. In 1949, the college started providing some of the teaching and administrative staff with quarters, and students with hostel facilities.

The College received its affiliation with the then University of Bombay (now University of Mumbai) in 1950.

Excellence

The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) of India has awarded an A⁺ rating to Podar College.

Students of Podar College have excelled in academics as attested to by the "Head of Academic Performance". A large number of chartered accountants, businessmen, educationists, industrialists, bankers, export-import consultants, and tax consultants, as well as members of Legislative Councils and Assemblies and social workers in India and abroad have graduated from Podar College.

Podar College has been one of the pioneers in conceiving the idea of rural camps in various "ādiwāsi" villages under the auspices of the "College National Social Service Unit (NSS)". After graduation from Podar College, inspired NSS Volunteers continue their service under the auspices of "Sankalp" and "Nirmiti Youth Foundation". The volunteers work in the villages of Barānpur near Pālghar, and Chandip and Shivansai near Vajreshwari. The NCC Unit of Podar College endorses the phrase "Small is beautiful".

Infrastructure

The campus area of Podar College encompasses 27,000 square feet (2,500 square meters). The college building occupies 54,594 square feet (5,055 square meters), and has three wings, each wing consisting of four floors. The auditorium, which is built in an ancient gothic style, has seating capacity of 500 and a semi-circular stage for performing arts. A large conference room has been a recent addition.

The library has a collection of over 60,000 books, including reference books, magazines, and journals, and it occupies the rear wing of the second floor; the third floor above the library forms the reading hall. The library offers the facility of a book bank. The "Central Computer Laboratory" is equipped with 50 PCs. An "Audio Visual Room" is attached to the library.

Courses offered

* B.Com.
* M.Com.
* B.M.S. (Bachelor of Management Studies)

Vocational Courses offered

Two vocational courses are offered as an integral part of the B.Com. course:
* Computer Applications, and
* Travel and Tourism Management

Cultural Activities

* Student's Council

* Artist's Guild & Youth Festival (The Artist's Guild promotes performing arts through several inter-collegiate talent competitions and cultural programs. The Youth Festival participates in inter-collegiate cultural competitions. Podar college has distinguished itself by winning the "Youth Festival Trophy" 16 times since its inception. University of Mumbai has awarded Podar College the "Best College Award".

*Other Clubs and Organizations:
** National Service Scheme Unit (NSS)
** National Cadet Corps (NCC)
** Literary Circles
** Hobby Circle
** Hikers Club
** Gymkhana Committee
** Speakers Academy
** Group Discussion Cell
** Quizzers' League

*The Annual Inter-Collegiate festival 'Enigma' hosts over 100 colleges. The Theme for the 2007 event was 'Enigma Echoes' [www.podarenigma.com]

*'RAPPORT' is the intra-collegiate festival where different divisions from each standard contest over 40 events. The Theme for the 2007 event was 'Rapport Rewind' [ [http://www.rapodar.ac.in/studentAddress.html R A Podar ] ]

Principal

* (Mrs.) Rajam Rajgopalan (current I/C principal-2006)

Past Principals

* (Mrs.) R. V. Upadhye
* K. C. Kuriala
* R. R. Sahuraja
* P. N. Phutane
* P. J. Joshi
* G. P. Palekar
* L. N. Welingkar
* V. Y. Kolhatkar
* N. G. Naralkar

Alumni

R C Lahoti, the chief justice of India, and noted politician Gurudas Kamat are among the alumni of Podar College.

In the arena of sports and cultural activies, distinguished alumni of Podar College include Farokh Engineer, Rohan Gavaskar, Ravi Shastri, Dilip Vengsarkar, Sanjay Manjrekar, G. R. Sundharam, Shishir Hattiangadi, Alan Sippy, Sairaj Bahutule, and Jatin Paranjape --all in cricket; and Kamlesh Mehta, S. Sridhar, S. Sriram, S. Ramaswamy, Vilas Menon, Vyoma Shah --all in table tennis. Alumnus Janaki Krishnamoorthy was an All India Tennis Champion among "under-19 women". Alumnus Ravindra Patil was the Chief Judo Coach of India, and alumni Meherwan Daruwala and Parth Doshi excelled in squash.

Actress Shilpa Shetty and contemporary dancer Astad Daboo atended Podar College. More than a dozen alumni of Podar College have been honored with the "Chhatrapati Award".

The Podar Group

Besides "Rāmniranjan Ānandilāl Podār College of Commerce and Economics", the Podār Group supports "Ānandilāl Podār High School, Rāmniranjan Podār High School," and "Lilāvati Bāi Podār High School."

References

External links

* [http://www.rapodar.ac.in Official site]