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Ramjas College

{{Short description|Constituent college of University of Delhi}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}}

{{use Indian English|date=April 2017}}

{{coord|28|41|8.6640|N|77|12|22.9788|E|type:education|display=title}}

{{promo|date=March 2025}}

{{Infobox university

| name = Ramjas College, University of Delhi

| image = Ramjas College Seal.jpg

| motto = "Knowledge Has No Comparison"

| established = 1917

| type = Degree College

| academic_affiliation = Delhi University

| founder = Aditya Rai Kedar Nath

{{cite web|url=http://www.ramjas.du.ac.in/in_detail.php?cid=2&id=83|title=ramjas.du.ac.in}}

| principal = Prof. Ajay Kumar Arora{{cite web|title=Principal's Desk|url=http://ramjas.du.ac.in/faculty_in_detail.php?cid=13&id=85|website=ramjas.du.ac.in|access-date=15 April 2018}}

| location =

| campus = Urban

| affiliations = University of Delhi

| website = {{URL|ramjas.du.ac.in}}

| city = New Delhi

}}

Ramjas College is one of the oldest constituent colleges of the University of Delhi, located in its North Campus in New Delhi, India. It was founded by the great educationist and philanthropist Rai Kedar Nath with the aim of providing affordable higher education.{{cite news |title=How a retired judge founded Ramjas College to carry father's legacy forward |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/how-a-retired-judge-founded-ramjas-college-to-carry-fathers-legacy-forward-8441101/ |publisher=The Indian Express}}

Ramjas is one of four founding colleges of the University of Delhi, alongside Hindu, St. Stephen's, and Zakir Husain. According to its website, Nath, the college's founder, also played a significant role in the naming of Delhi University.{{cite web|url=https://ramjas.du.ac.in/college/web/index.php?r=ramjas-alumni|title=ramjas.du.ac.in}}

History

Founded on 17 January 1917 by the educationist and philanthropist, Rai Kedar Nath, the college was named in memory of his father, Lala Ramjas.{{cite web|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050518/asp/careergraph/story_4747403.asp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050721090142/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050518/asp/careergraph/story_4747403.asp|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 July 2005|title=Telegraph India}} In its initial days, the college was solely run by the Ramjas Foundation, an educational society that presently runs 16 schools and other educational institutions across Delhi.{{cite web |url=https://www.ramjasfoundation.com/about.htm |website=Ramjas Foundation |title=Ramjas Foundation, Delhi [Education Schools/Colleges, Adventure Activities, Day Boarding Schools] }} Ramjas was upgraded to the degree level under the aegis of University of Delhi when the latter was founded in 1922. Nevertheless, Ramjas Foundation continued to oversee its administration.{{cite web|url=http://www.universityexpress.co.in/delhiuniversity/ramjas-college/|title=University Express}}{{cite web|url=http://www.du.ac.in/du/index.php?page=about-du-2|title=du.ac.in}} In 1924, its other branch named Ramjas Intermediate College was opened at Daryaganj and the old college was moved to a new campus at Anand Parbat (then Kala Pahad) near the Serai Rohilla Station about two miles from heart of city. This campus was inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi, a good friend of Rai Kedar Nath.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}} However, the college had to cede its campus at Anand Parbat to the British Wireless Experimental Centre during World War II.{{cite web|url=http://thecampusconnect.com/7-interesting-historical-facts-about-ramjas-college-university-of-delhi/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150530184924/http://thecampusconnect.com/7-interesting-historical-facts-about-ramjas-college-university-of-delhi/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=30 May 2015|title=thecampusconnect.com}} During the Second World War a group of Ramjas students became active in the Quit India Movement resulting in them being arrested and jailed. Their names are inscribed on a memorial plaque near the college auditorium's entrance. Now almost equal in number, there were only two females out of 161 students in 1942–43 session.

File:The President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee released the centenary postage stamp at the centenary celebrations of Ramjas College, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on February 13, 2017.jpg

The college relocated to its current location in 1950. Dr Rajendra Prasad, the first President of India inaugurated the present building on 17 January 1951. He even sent his daughters to study here. After the death of Rai Kedarnath, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, the architect of Constitution of India and first Minister of Law and Justice of India, acted as the Chairman of Governing Body of Ramjas College. Ramjas had the distinct privilege as the only College in Delhi of having him in its Governing Body. On 12 February 1959, The famous African-American civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. visited the college and made a memorable speech to the students.

In January 2004, the College organised the first-ever Conference of Graduate Students of Economics from the SAARC countries.{{cite web|url=http://www.eduage.org/ramjas_aboutus.htm|title=eduage}}

Ramjas celebrated its centennial legacy throughout 2016 and completed a 100 years in January 2017.{{cite web|url=http://heyevent.com/venue/s7yqnytedbsz2a|title=heyevent.com}} In 2017, India Post issued a postage stamp to commemorate the centenary year of Ramjas college Delhi.{{cite web|url=https://philaindia.info/postage-stamp-on-ramjas-college/|website=philaindia.info|title=Postage Stamp On Ramjas College|date=14 February 2017 |access-date=25 December 2020}}

Ramjas College hosted the first edition of the Delhi University Literature Festival, officiated by the University of Delhi in its centenary year. Scheduled 17–19 March 2023, the exercise was led by Swapan Dasgupta as the festival director and Sanjeev Sanyal as the festival Patron.{{Cite web |date=19 March 2023 |title=It's raining lit fests at Delhi University |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/its-raining-lit-fests-at-delhi-university/ |access-date=25 April 2023 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}} Several renowned figures such as Rajyavardhan Rathore, Gen. Manoj Naravane, Bibek Debroy, and others participated in this literary exercise.{{Cite web |title=DU LitFest 2023 |url=https://dulitfest.org/ |access-date=25 April 2023 |website=dulitfest.org}}

Academics

= Academic programmes =

The college offers 8 Bachelor of Arts courses, 8 Bachelor of Science courses and 2 Bachelor of Commerce courses at undergraduate level. Primary medium of instruction of courses is English. Further, it offers 18 postgraduate courses in sciences, humanities and commerce streams. Additionally, there are 26 add-on courses and 6 foreign language courses on offer.{{cite web|url=http://www.minglebox.com/college/ramjas-college-new-delhi1/courses|title=minglebox.com}}

Admissions for the college are now done through the CUET. The CUET cut-offs, for the arts and commerce courses are exceptionally high. Even before CUET, the cut-offs were among the highest in the country with the BA (Hons) Political Science cut-off reaching 100 percent in the final year of admissions based on board exam marks.{{cite web |url=https://ramjas.du.ac.in/adminramjas/web/notices/lt8r2ze7y14phh8q44jz6c19xhk05vfypzhz2oq9mqqhgt4nsu.pdf |website=Ramjas College Cut-Offs}}

=Rankings=

In 2021, India Today ranked Ramjas College 7th among commerce colleges,{{Cite web|title=Best COMMERCE Colleges 2020: List of Top COMMERCE Colleges 2020 in India - Page7|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/bestcolleges/2020/ranks/1824924?page=7|access-date=16 March 2021|website=www.indiatoday.in}} 10th among arts colleges{{Cite web|title=Best ARTS Colleges 2020: List of Top ARTS Colleges 2020 in India - Page9|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/bestcolleges/2020/ranks/1824920?page=9|access-date=16 March 2021|website=www.indiatoday.in}} and 17th among science colleges in India.{{Cite web|title=Best SCIENCE Colleges 2020: List of Top SCIENCE Colleges 2020 in India - Page16|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/bestcolleges/2020/ranks/1824932?page=16|access-date=16 March 2021|website=www.indiatoday.in}}

Campus

The college's red coloured building is surrounded by over 76 species of trees and foliage which has earned it the title 'Rainforest'.

= Infrastructure =

Ramjas' fully air-conditioned auditorium (450 capacity), a Conference Hall (200 capacity), and a Seminar Room form the nucleus of all the academic conferences, events and proceedings of the college. It has facilities for volleyball, basketball, football and table tennis, etc. It also has its own shooting range and an archery range within the campus. The college has 96 classrooms across two buildings which are mostly equipped with state of the art projectors. The college also boasts of 27 departmental libraries indicative of a strong research environment. The Dr Harsh Malhotra Research Lab, and Gaudhan Research Lab (sponsored by Ministry of Animal Husbandry and Dairy) are few of the highlights.{{cite web |title=NAAC Report |url=https://ramjas.du.ac.in/naac/web/criteria/Criteria_3_Research_Innovations_and_Extension/3.2_Innovation_Ecosystem/3.2.1_a_Ecosystem.pdf |website=Ramjas College}} Its New Academic Block, which is one of the tallest in the University of Delhi, was inaugurated in 2017 with its centennial celebrations. It is equipped with lifts for easy access. The college also has a dedicated ECA (extra-curricular activity) Room. A fully air-conditioned gym is also present for all students to use. Other infrastructural elements include a physiotherapy room, a girls' common room, medical room, photocopy shop and a staff room.{{cite web |title=Ramjas College 2024-25 Prospectus |url=https://ramjas.du.ac.in/adminramjas/web/download/Ramjas_College_Prospectus_2024-25.pdf |website=Ramjas College}}

= Hostel =

The college also provides on campus hostel facilities with 80 seats for girls and 120 seats for boys.{{cite web|url=http://daily.bhaskar.com/news/DEL-ramjas-college-from-hostel-to-hangout-zones-know-your-delhi-university-campus-4294290-NOR.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310191712/http://daily.bhaskar.com/news/DEL-ramjas-college-from-hostel-to-hangout-zones-know-your-delhi-university-campus-4294290-NOR.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 March 2016|title=Daily Bhaskar}}{{cite web|url=http://www.dukhabar.com/list-of-delhi-university-hostels/|title=dukhabar}}

== Student societies ==

The college is also known for its students' involvement in student politics. The DUSU (Delhi University Students' Union) has been known to have major contributions from Ramjas College, the most important being the victory of alumnus Akshit Dahiya as the DUSU President (2019–20) with a margin of 19,069 votes and him also being the youngest DUSU President in a very long time, aged 20 when elected.

The Woman Development Cell, and the Gender Sensitization Committee foster an equitable environment. {{cite web |url=https://ramjas.du.ac.in/adminramjas/web/download/Ramjas_College_Prospectus_2024-25.pdf}}

1. The Ramjas Debating Society is one of the best-debating societies in India, having made some major contributions to the Indian Debating Circuit. It has separate wings for Hindi and English. Its flagship AP-Debate Tournament 'Polemic' has been hosted for over two decades. Members of the society have qualified at multiple international tournaments such as Oxford, Harvard, LSE and WUDC. {{cite web |title=Societies |url=https://ramjas.du.ac.in/college/web/index.php?r=students-zone/societies |website=Ramjas College}}

2. The Ramjas Fine Arts Society, 'Mélange' is one of the oldest art societies in the University of Delhi. With its active social media presence and yearly newsletters, it strives to create an artistically and socially open space for students to express themselves freely through the expression of art.

3. The Ramjas Dramatics Society, 'Shunya' is a reputed society in the Delhi circuit. It encourages free expression of emotions through acting, and production.

4. Enactus, Ramjas was established in 2011, the team of more than 50 dedicated students have been helping underprivileged communities and individuals to earn a living through developing entrepreneurial opportunities for the same in the country.

5. The Ramjas Literary Society, 'Wordcraft' was founded in 1987. Ever since its inception, Wordcraft has been at the heart of expression through creative writing for the students of Ramjas College.

6. The Philosophy Society of Ramjas, 'Darshan' has quickly grown to become one of the most famous and exclusive societies in the college through its frequent hosting of meaningful and thought-provoking discussions and seminars.

7. NSS, Ramjas provides hands-on experience to young students in delivering community service.

8. The Quizzing Society, 'Qnights'

9. Illuminer Counsel (Ramjas chapter)

10. The Ramjas Placements Society, 'Pinnacle'

11. The Ramjas MUN Society, 'TRMUN'

12. The Ramjas Dancing Society

13. 'The Ramjas Music Society, 'Backbeat', was founded in 2006, providing a forum not only for musical enhancement but for the intellectual, creative and cultural development of students.

14. The Ramjas Film and Photography Society Ramjas, 'Focus' was founded in the year 2012, and aims at providing a platform for amateurs to nurture their passion for photography besides offering a platform to facilitate the digitalisation of creativity.

15.'''Lakshay: The Civil Services Society

Established in 2024, Lakshay is the Civil Services Society of Ramjas College. It provides a platform for UPSC aspirants to engage in discussions, mock tests, and events like seminars and talks with civil servants.

= Academic journals and magazines =

Ramjas also encourages collegiate writing and research.

Ramjas Political Review is the biannual peer-reviewed academic research journal run by the undergraduate students of the Department of Political Science, Ramjas College, University of Delhi. It is the only political science journal in the University of Delhi with an International Standard Serial Number, which is ISSN (O): 3048-5886. {{cite web |url=https://www.ramjaspoliticalreview.com |website=Ramjas Political Review}} Ramjas Economic Review, run by the Department of Economics, is a peer–reviewed international academic journal for undergraduate students to showcase their research pertaining to the discipline of economics.{{cite web |url=http://ramjaseconomicreview.com}} Anubhuti is the Department of Philosophy's annual journal.

Notable alumni

{{alumni|date=February 2018}}

References

{{Reflist|2}}

External links

  • {{official website}}

{{University of Delhi}}

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Category:Delhi University

Category:Universities and colleges in Delhi

Category:Educational institutions established in 1917

Category:Commerce colleges in India

Category:1917 establishments in India