Ravenshaw University

Infobox_University
name = Ravenshaw University


motto = "Knowledge Is Power"
established = 2006
Haramjada = S.Mishra
vice_chancellor= Mr. D. Chhotray
city = Cuttack, Orissa, India
country =
students =
type = Public
campus = Urban
affiliations = UGC
website= [http://www.ravenshawuniversity.com www.ravenshawuniversity.com]

Overall history

Upgraded from Ravenshaw College one of the oldest and largest colleges of India, the Ravenshaw University came into existence on 15 November 2006. Originally affiliated to University of Calcutta and thereafter to Patna University and then finally to Utkal University the institution finally got its own identity and became one of the most reputed universities of the Orissa state. Presently the University runs 23 Post-Graduate courses with research facilities and 27 Undergraduate honours courses. Detailed history of Ravenshaw University Ravenshaw University came into existence on the 15th day of November, 2006. It was an upgradation of Ravenshaw College established in 1868, one of the oldest and largest colleges in India which subsequently became an autonomous college with CPE status by UGC and ‘A’ grade by NAAC. The College with all its glorious academic achievement and ceaseless scholastic pursuits had already created a distinct niche for itself in India and beyond. The history of this great institution is, in a manner of speaking, the history of modern Orissa. It was the cradle of ideas fostering national unity and nationalism, promoting social mobilization and gearing up the freedom struggle.The grand hall of this institution was a theatre of history : on the 1st of April 1936 it was the venue for the declaration of Orissa as a separate province; thereafter it housed the state's first legislative assembly up to and even after Independence till it was shifted to Bhubaneswar, the new capital of the state. During Quit India Movement of 1942 the students of this institution brought down the Union Jack as a mark of nationalistic fervour.

The College originally was affiliated to Calcutta University and thereafter to Patna University in 1917 and was finally affiliated to Utkal University in 1943. The Utkal University began functioning from this campus till it was shifted to its present site at Vani Vihar, Bhubaneswar. This institution is the alma mater of the most distinguished personalities of the state. Not only the Utkal University but also the Orissa State Museum and Madhusudan Law College are the offshoots of this Institution obtaining their independent status at a later stage.

Post-graduate teaching started in 1922 with the opening of M.A. English class. Considering its great heritage, the Institution has been awarded National Honour by the Government of India through the issue of a commemorative stamp in 1978. The library which was named after the Raja Sahib of Kanika is the largest in Orissa. Not only is this Institution an epitome of learning but also a piece of unique Victorian architecture in the country.

The University has 27 departments of which 20 are post-graduate departments. M.Phil. programme is available in 14 departments and all the departments have provision for Ph.D. & D.Litt. programmes. Presently the University runs 23 Post-Graduate courses with research facilities and 27 Undergraduate honours courses.

The mission of the institution is "To provide value-based quality education to students of all sections of society with a view to promoting exemplary work ethics, professional expertise and leadership in all walks of life to serve their fellowmen with justice, truth and love" with a pledge to redeem the motto of the University "Gyanameba Shakti" which means "Knowledge is Power"

Some less known facts about TE Ravenshaw TE Ravenshaw was the Commissioner of Orissa during the great famine of 1866. In the post- famine development phase, he took many major initiatives for the promotion of school and higher education in the state. The people of the state felicitated him by naming three of the premier educational institutions after him. They were the Ravenshaw Collegiate School, the Ravenshaw Girls' School and the Ravenshaw College, which has now become a University. The point to note is that this honour was bestowed on Ravenshaw only after he completed his 12 year tenure in the state and left for another station, and this was done not at the behest of the government, but on account of the goodwill of the people of Orissa.

Thomas Edward Ravenshaw was born on 1st July 1827, and baptised At St. Michael's, Bath on 1st August of the same year. His parents were John Hurdis and Rose Melly Ravenshaw. The father was a "gentleman" who resided at Paragon Buildings, Bath, and it would appear that the baptism ceremony was performed by a relative Ed. (Edward?) Ravenshaw, Officiating Minister. At the time of his interview by the Court of Directors of the East India Company, to become a civil servant and go for training at the Company College at Haileybury, he mentioned that his father was living in Richmond, Surrey. Before his application he had been educated at Wellesley House in St. John's Wood under the principal T. J Scale ( B.A., Jesus College, Cambridge ), who in a letter to the Court said that he was attentive to his studies and "conducted himself thoroughly as a high-minded gentleman". However it appears that he also suffered one or two severe bouts of rheumatic fever during his time at the establishment.

Arrived in India - 13 June 1849 Assistant to Magistrate and Collector, Badergunge - 1851 Assistant to Magistrate and Collector, Monghyr - 1852 -53 Joint Magistrate and Deputy Collector, 2nd grade, Monghyr - 1854 Joint Magistrate and Deputy Collector, 2nd grade, Dinapore - 1855 Magistrate of Dinapore - 1856 - 58 Commissioner for suppression of Dacoity - 1859 On Furlough 1860 - 62 Joint Magistrate and Deputy Collector, Sarun - 1863 Magistrate and Collector, 1st grade, Patna - 1864 Magistrate of Patna - May 1865 Officiating Judge, Birbhum - 10 May 1865 Officiating Commissioner, Kattak Division - 23 June 1865 Magistrate of Rangpur and officiating as Commissioner of Kattak Division - 9 December 1865 Judge, 1st grade, at Jessore and still officiating as Commissioner of Kattak Division - 24 December 1866 Commissioner of Orissa Division - 1 February 1869 Furlough from 15 Apri 1869 to 22 April 1870 Commissioner of Orissa - 7 May 1870 On special duty at the Bengal Presidency - 14 April 1877 Officiating member of the Board of Revenue - 17 April 1877 Commissioner of Orissa Division - 12 December 1877 Furlough from 18 April to 19 December 1878 Commissioner of the Bardwan Division - 21 December 1878

It appears from the India List that he remained as Commissioner of the Bardwan Division until he retired in 1882.(Source: The British Library, London)

Infrastructure

The university has following facilities for its students:
*Dispensary
*Canteen
*Bank
*Post Office
*Students Information Bureau
*Gymnasium
*Parking Lots
*Sports GroundKATAMUNDA CLUB OWNER "KATAMUNDA"

Faculties

The university runs various programs through the following faculties:
*Department of Applied Geography
*Department of Botany
*Departmen of Chemistry
*Department of Commerce
*Department of Economics
*Department of Education
*Department of English
*Department of Hindi
*Department of Sanskrit
*Department of Geology
*Department of History
*Department of Mathematics
*Department of Philosophy
*Department of Physics
*Department of Political Science
*Department of Psychology
*Department of Sociology
*Department of Statistics
*Deparmaent of Zoology
*Deparmaent of Master in Computer Application

References

* [http://www.ravenshawuniversity.com Ravenshaw University Webpage]

U CAN ALSO SEE A 'KATAMUNDA' IN THE CAMPUS.