By TCN News,
New Delhi: The old and famous Zakir Hussain College of Delhi University has now become Zakir Hussain Delhi College. In a way it is not really a new name. The college used to be called as Delhi College during 1960s when it was located at Ajmere Gate.
It was only in 1975 that the name of the college was changed from Delhi College to Zakir Hussain College after Zakir Hussain College Memorial Trust took it over. Since then it has been a popular demand to include ‘Delhi’ in the name of the college to highlight its history.
Old building of Delhi College. [TCN Photo]
The decision to amend the name was taken at the meeting of the Trust on July 26, 2010. It was chaired by Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh. Rejecting the proposal to turn the college into a deemed university, the trust also decided that the college will continue to be with Delhi University.
The college which is the oldest educational institution in North India originally started as a madrasa in 1702. Famous as Madrasa Ghaziuddin, it was declared as one of the three major madrasas in Delhi in 1711. In the absence of funds it was closed down in 1790s, only to be re-established as Government College of Delhi in 1824.
Prime Minister of Oudh Nawab Itmadudduala provided an endowment of Rs. 1,70,000 in 1829.
The college attracted Hindu and Muslim elites by providing lessons in modern sciences. In 1845, of a total strength of 460 students, 418 were studying in the Oriental Section, while 245 students were also learning the English language. They included 299 Hindus, 146 Muslims and 15 Christians.
Plaque showing Nawav Itmaduddaula’s contribution in 1829.
On May 11, 1857, the revolutionaries plundered the college, then located at Kashmiri Gate, because it provided western education. However, British authorities closed it down after the defeat of the Revolt because they suspected the loyalties of its teachers and students. In 1862 the institution once again sent up candidates for the entrance examination of the Calcutta University. Between 1864 and 1871, intermediate, B.A. and M.A. classes were started. However, the imperial government decided to close down the institution, transferring its staff and library to Lahore.
In 1924, the Anglo-Arabic Intermediate College was started. The college was affiliated to Delhi University in 1925, and became one of its constituent degree colleges in 1929.
Following the partition of India, the college was attacked and set on fire by incendiary mobs. Courageous staff members managed to save the Library and office records. Supported by Dr. Zakir Husain and others, the Delhi College was revived as a non-denominational institution in 1948.
In 1975 the College, now managed by the Zakir Husain Memorial Trust, was renamed Zakir Husain College. It shifted to the new campus outside the Turkman Gate in 1986.
Link:
http://www.zakirhusaincollege.in/