Sanskrit College

Sanskrit College is an Institute of Higher Education and one of the constituent institutions of the University of Calcutta. A traditional college that specializes in the scholarship of Indian tradition, philosophy and religion, it is located in central Kolkata, opposite the campus of Presidency College, Kolkata. The Sanskrit College is currently affiliated with the University of Calcutta for its undergraduate programs in philosophy, history and other humanities subjects. It was established in 1824 during the Governor-Generalship of Lord Amherst, based on a recommendation by HT James Prinsep, Thomas Babington Macaulay among others.

Mahamahopadhyay Pandit Mahesh Chandra Nyayratna Bhattacharyya, C.I.E., the eminent scholar of Sanskrit was the principal of the college for over 18 years. He was a Companion of the Indian Empress (C.I.E.), and a member of the Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire.

He played a crucial role in Bengal's educational reformation. He revived the "Tol" system in Sanskrit education, and introduced titles or "Upadhi".

The institution rose to prominence during the principalship by Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar in 1851, who admitted students from other than the brahmin caste. In particular the "tol" or traditional Indian training school model was incorporated as a department in the 1870s. In the pre-independence era, it was one of the finest seats of academic excellence in matters pertaining to Hinduism, eastern philosophy, ancient Indian history and ancient Indian languages like Pali and Prakrit. It is particularly well known for the contribution of its faculty and students in the social, cultural and religious transformation in nineteenth century Bengal in what came to be popularly regarded as the Bengal Renaissance. In terms of scholarship and intellectual output, it contributed hugely to enriching the knowledge of ancient Indian society and interpretation of ancient Indian texts.

In post-independence era, the college has not attracted meritorious students although it still houses some of India's leading scholars of traditional Hindu scholarship. Bimal Krishna Matilal was a teacher here from 1957 to 1962.