Willingdon College

Willingdon College, Sangli, is a college named after the former Governor of Bombay, The 1st Baron Willingdon (who was later created The 1st Marquess of Willingdon). Lord Willingdon later served as Viceroy of India, from 1931 until 1936. The college was started on the morning of June 22, 1919 in the Sangli City. During this period, Centers of higher education and colleges were rare. With the establishment of the Willingdon College, the students in Southern Maharashtra and from the districts of Belgaum, Dharwad, Karwar and Bijapur were greatly benefited. The institute is situated in the Vishrambag area of Sangli-Miraj-Kupwad Municipal Corporation, roughly midway between the twin cities of Miraj and Sangli.Establishment1919Great national leaders and patriots like Vishnushastri Chiplunkar, Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Gopal Ganesh Agarkar and Madhavrao Namjoshi, inspired by the spirit of a nation building ideal of education, laid the foundations in Pune, of the New English School in 1880 and the Deccan Education Society in 1884. The Fergusson college was started in 1885. In response to a demand that a College be started in Southern Maharashtra and in response to the sincere desire of the Ruler of the Sangli State, the Society founded the Willingdon College at Sangli in 1919. The President of the Society, Shrimant Chh.Shahu Maharaj, Kolhapur and the Vice-Presidents, Shrimant Patwardhans, Rulers of the Sangli and Miraj States and the generous wealthy citizens around came forth with great help for the cause. The College was started on the morning of 22 June 1919 in the Sangli City in the building where Rani Saraswati Kanya Shala stands today.