Siddharth College of Arts, Science and Commerce
{{Short description|College in Mumbai}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox university
| name = Siddharth College
|image = Siddharth College, Mumbai.jpg
|caption = Building of Dr. Ambedkar's Siddhartha College, Mumbai in 1956
|established = {{Start date and age|1946|6|20}}
|academic_affiliation = University of Mumbai
| address = Buddha Bhavan, Purshotamdas Thakurdas Marg, Outram Road
| state = Maharashtra
| country = India
| postalcode = 400001
| coordinates = {{Coord|18|55|51.5|N|72|49|50.2|E|display=inline,title}}
| campus_type = Urban
| website = {{URL|https://siddharthcollegeofasc.com/}}
}}
Siddharth College of Arts, Science and Commerce is a college in Mumbai offering undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Arts, Science, and Commerce fields.{{cite web |title=About |url=https://siddharthcollegeofasc.com/about-college/ |publisher=Siddharth College of Arts, Science and Commerce |access-date=6 December 2022}} The college is affiliated with the University of Mumbai.{{cite web|url=https://mu.ac.in/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/all-affidated-college-list-25-05-2022-pdf.pdf |title=List of all University Affiliated Colleges |publisher=University of Mumbai|access-date=6 December 2022 |df=dmy-all}}
History
It was founded on 20 June 1946 by the People's Education Society which was formed by Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar.{{cite web|url=http://www.ambedkarmission.org/cat/news/articles_item.asp?NewsID=20|title=Ambedkarmission|publisher=Ambedkarmission.org|access-date=14 November 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141126190205/http://www.ambedkarmission.org/cat/news/articles_item.asp?NewsID=20|archive-date=26 November 2014|df=dmy-all}} It was the first educational institution by the nascent society which was founded nearly a year ago on 8 July 1945 with an aim of affording legal education to all sections of society.{{cite journal |last1=Sangole |first1=Minal |title=Understanding Dr B. R. Ambedkar's Idea of Social Democracy and Higher Education through Siddharth College, Bombay |journal=Journal of Social Inclusion Studies |date=December 2021 |volume=7 |issue=2 |pages=199–215 |doi=10.1177/23944811221075485 |url=https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/23944811221075485 |access-date=13 December 2022 |publisher=Sage |s2cid=246778151 |language=en |issn=2394-4811|url-access=subscription }} The commerce courses became available in 1980.
It is housed in Buddha Bhavan, situated in the Fort area of Mumbai. Its office is located in Anand Bhavan, which has been declared as a heritage structure by the Heritage society of the MMRDA.{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/bestcolleges/2015/ranks.jsp?Y=2014&ST=Law&LMT=23|title=DIRECTORY OF BEST COLLEGES 2015: RANKS.JSP | IndiaToday|website=www.indiatoday.in}} The building is susceptible to flooding in heavy Mumbai monsoon.{{cite news |last1=Gaikwad |first1=Rahi |title=Rain wreaks havoc inside Siddharth College |url=https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/mumbai/other/rain-wreaks-havoc-inside-siddharth-college/articleshow/77102961.cms |access-date=13 December 2022 |work=Mumbai Mirror |date=July 22, 2020 |language=en}}
Over the years, Bharipa's Prakash Ambedkar (Babasaheb's grandson) and Republican Party's Ramdas Athawale – both Ambedkarite factions, but with differing perspectives on socio-political issues – have fought for control over the society and the college.{{cite news |last1=Hafeez |first1=Mateen |title=Court restricts trustees from entering college premises |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/court-restricts-trustees-from-entering-college-premises/articleshow/20785669.cms |access-date=13 December 2022 |work=The Times of India |date=June 26, 2013 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Mishra |first1=Ambarish |last2=Ali |first2=S. Ahmed |title=51 held for protesting outside Fort college {{!}} Mumbai News |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/51-held-for-protesting-outside-fort-college/articleshow/13712447.cms |access-date=13 December 2022 |work=The Times of India |date=June 2, 2012 |language=en}}{{cite news |title=सिद्धार्थ महाविद्यालयात आठवले यांना नो एन्ट्री! |url=https://www.lokmat.com/maharashtra/athwale-has-no-entry-siddharth-college/ |access-date=13 December 2022 |work=Lokmat |date=23 April 2016 |language=mr-IN}}{{cite news |last1=झियाउद्दीन |first1=सय्यद |title=सिद्धार्थ महाविद्यालयात जादूटोणा-करणी? |url=https://www.loksatta.com/mumbai/blackmagic-in-siddharth-college-1154293/ |access-date=13 December 2022 |work=Loksatta |date=26 October 2015 |language=mr}}
Courses offered
{{As of|2022}}, the college offered undergraduate coursework in Arts, Science and Commerce Streams. The college also enrolls graduate students in M.Sc. & Ph.D. programs.[https://siddharthcollegeofasc.com/admission-schedule-2020-21/ Admission Schedule]
Library
The college is also home to some rare books from Dr. Ambedkar's personal collection, which were used as reference for drafting the Constitution of India.{{cite news |last1=Geetha |first1=V. |title=Unpacking a Library: Babasaheb Ambedkar and His World of Books |url=https://thewire.in/caste/unpacking-library-babasaheb-ambedkar-world-books |access-date=13 December 2022 |work=The Wire |date=13 December 2022}}{{cite news |last1=Sarwade |first1=Vijay |title='माझ्या जीवनातील स्नेही मी तुम्हाला देत आहे', बाबासाहेबांची ११०० ग्रंथ मिलिंदच्या ग्रंथालयात |url=https://www.lokmat.com/aurangabad/my-lifes-friends-i-am-giving-you-1100-books-of-prajnasurya-dr-babasaheb-ambedkars-in-milind-colleges-library-a915-c320/ |access-date=6 December 2022 |work=Lokmat |date=6 December 2022 |language=mr-IN}}{{Cite web|url=https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/mumbai/cover-story/rare-draft-of-constitution-falling-apart-in-city-college/articleshow/16099034.cms|title=Rare draft of constitution falling apart in city college|website=Mumbai Mirror}} The library has on display many Ambedkar artifacts, including a copy of the Constitution of India with his name embossed on it.{{cite news |last1=Lukose |first1=Anjali |title=Ambedkar artefacts to be displayed in college library |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/ambedkar-artefacts-to-be-displayed-in-college-library/ |access-date=13 December 2022 |work=The Indian Express |date=10 June 2015 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Lukose |first1=Anjali |title=At his alma mater, B R Ambedkar's name finds no place in list of 'illustrious' alumni |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/at-his-alma-mater-ambedkars-name-finds-no-place-in-list-of-illustrious-alumni/ |access-date=13 December 2022 |work=The Indian Express |date=14 April 2015 |language=en}}