Sundarban Mahavidyalaya

Since long past Kakdwip has been enjoying a distinction of its own and has earned a pride of place in the tourist map of India. One of the main reasons is its proximity to the Ganga-Sagar where people from all corners of India assemble together for holy dip for spiritual salvation. Kakdwip is ensconced themselves in the idyllic background of the Sundarbans widely known for its rich flora and fauna, dense forestry and for its profuse animal and aquatic resources. Upgraded to a full fledged Sub-Division, Kakdwip now acts as the gateway to the South Sundarbans. A fine network of rivers weaves a unique pattern in and across the amazing Sundarbans, while the mysterious sea skirting the vast and expanding coast constantly beckons us all to follow and embrace her. Engaged in a constant struggle with nature and adverse circumstances, the people of Kakdwip attained the qualities of tolerance and determination, stern nature and strength of character. They realized at the same time that the agrarian structure of the society should be polished and tuned up by the serious culture of the intellect. This could be achieved, they believed, with the opening of a centre of higher education at Kakdwip. There are no doubt a good number of schools at the secondary and higher secondary levels in different islands in and around Kakdwip. But there was no college. Students could not pursue their higher education after successful completion of their school education. It was a long standing problem to students who for poverty could not go out for higher education. This long-felt problem was solved with the establishment of Sundarban Mahavidyalaya on 4 August 1965. New vistas of knowledge were opened to the youth of the Sundarbans and new ideas emerged in their young minds. This institution of higher education owes its existence to the concerted efforts of a group of dedicated people who came forward enthusiastically with profuse donations of land, money and materials. The people of the vast areas supported the cause morally and emotionally. After overcoming all sorts of hurdles Sundarban Mahavidyalaya obtained recognition as an institution of higher education with the sanction and approval of affiliation by the University of Calcutta and subsequently by the University Grants Commission. Responding to the social priorities to remove illiteracy, to spread education spatially and to inspire general awareness among the people, Sundarban Mahavidyalaya has fixed its principal motto to educate the burgeoning youths and to enrich them intellectually. And thus it helps evolve progressively a newer and improved generation of youths every year. This emergence of new forces enhances upgrades and solidifies the social fabric of Kakdwip and its surrounding areas. Since its inception in 1965 this College started teaching the programme in Arts at the degree level under the aegis of the University of Calcutta. Affiliation of Political Science to the Honours Standard was sanctioned in 1970 – 71 and the programme in Commerce at the general degree level was initiated in 1971 – 72. Affiliation of Accounting and Finance to the Honours Standard was granted in 1984 – 85. Advanced courses in other major subjects in the Faculty of Arts were subsequently introduced with the expansion of buildings and other related infrastructure with the grants from the UGC, the Zilla Parishad and the MPLAD: Bengali in 1995 – 96; History in 1998 – 99; English in 2000 – 01; Economics in 2002 – 03 and Philosophy in 2003 – 04. Affiliation of Geography to the General Standard was sanctioned in 2001 – 02 and that of Education to the General Standard in 2002 – 03. The programme in Science with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics at the General degree level was inaugurated in 1995. Subsequently, affiliation of Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics to the Honours Standard were granted in 2000–01, 2001–02 respectively. Advanced course in Geography was introduced in 2004 – 05, catering to the needs of a large number of students who study Geography in their Higher Secondary Course. As to the results of students of this college it may be proclaimed with pride that in recent years some students of Philosophy, Chemistry and Commerce were successful in achieving First Class Honours, while most of other departments obtained high grade in final examinations. It is in this way that Sundarban Mahavidyalaya has been moving ahead with improvement of quality along with quantity.