Cotton College to Cotton University, Prestigious Institution in Guwahati: Journey Completed more than a Century

              In 2017, the famous institution of Assam popularly known as Cotton College has been upgraded to Cotton University.   The prestigious and famous Cotton College located at heart of Guwahati city viz., Panbazar was established in 1901 by Sir Henry Stedman Cotton, the Chief Commissioner of the erstwhile British province of Assam. It is the oldest institute of higher education not only in Assam but the whole of northeast India. Sir Cotton, had formally declared establishment of Cotton College under Calcutta University at a public meeting held on 27 May, 1901. Prof Fredrick William Sudmersen was the first principal of the College. After establishment of Gauhati University in 1948 the affiliation of Cotton College was transferred from Calcutta University to Gauhati University. The Historical change took place in 2017 when Cotton College which was 116 years old in 2017 has been upgraded to the University, recognized by the University Grants Commission. The Vision of the University is to make it a world-class one, excelling in developing knowledge both research and teaching.

     Dr. Bhabesh Chandra Goswami, then Professor of Chemistry, Gauhati University also Director, UGC-Human Resource Development Centre, Gauhati University has been assigned the coveted post of Vice Chancellor of the University in  July 2017. Prof. Jagdish Mukhi, the Governor of Assam is the ex officio Chancellor of Cotton University in accordance with the provision of the University Act.    Prior to upgrade the University, most of the departments of Cotton College offered post graduate courses from 1994 in addition to under graduate and higher secondary courses in humanities, social science and science streams.

    Presently, keeping the tradition of the erstwhile Cotton College, the University offers courses from Higher Secondary School Leaving Certificate in Arts, Social Science and Science streams and also there are courses in Graduate, Post- graduate and Ph.D. The graduate syllabuses of different subjects have been prepared by the faculty members of Cotton University, incorporating inputs from external experts. The subjects are: Anthropology, Arabic, Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Botany, Chemistry, Computer Science and IT, Economics, Education, English, Geography, Geology, Hindi, History, Mathematics, Persian, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science, Sanskrit, Statistics and Zoology.

The postgraduate syllabuses also have been prepared by Cotton University faculty in collaboration with and external experts. These are Anthropology, Assamese, Bengali, Botany, Chemistry, Education, English, Geography, Environmental Biology & Wild life Science, Geography, Geology, Hindi, History, Mathematics, Master of Computer Applications (MCA), Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (MBBT), Persian, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, Sanskrit, Sociology and Statistics. In addition, there are Ph.D. programmes available in the University. It may be mentioned here that the Centre for Women’s Studies (CWS) at Cotton University, has been formally established in January 2020, which is headed by its Convenor and has one Assistant Professor. Further, the Internal Committee (IC) of Cotton University (2019-2022), is committed to provide neutral, confidential and supportive environment to members of the campus community and serves as the complaint redressal mechanism under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013.  Moreover, the Cotton University Court in its First Meeting held on 3 May 2019 has accepted the First Statute of Cotton University, 2019.

    Time to time, I have interacted many students who had passed from then Cotton College and observed they felt bliss to study in the College because of its quality education. Most of the students were selected who scored high marks in the previous examination and teaching faculty members were also highly dynamic.  I wish the newly started University, which has been graduated from College to University, a great success as this year in educational arena, Cotton College to Cotton University has completed 119 years.  

The following websites have been consulted for writing the article:

  1. http://theshillongtimes.com/2017/06/02/assams-cotton-college-becomes-cotton-university
  2. https://cottonuniversity.ac.in/
  3. https://cottonuniversity.ac.in/index.php
  4. https://cottonuniversity.ac.in/page-details.php?subject=Graduate
  5. https://cottonuniversity.ac.in/pagedetails.php?subject=9aa60e28a0adea30e6c7384afa53c728&upload=27

Dr. Shankar Chatterjee

Former Professor& Head (CPME)

NIRD &PR (Govt. of India),

Hyderabad-500 030

Telangana, India

Email <shankarjagu@gmail.com>

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Published by Dr. Shankar Chatterjee

This is Dr Shankar Chatterjee, retired on superannuation from the post of Professor & Head (CPME) from NIRD&PR, an organization of Govt. of India. I have published 32 books (individual and joint) and around 500 plus research papers, articles, letters. In addition, more than 1000 comments/views uploaded in the Digital column of different leading newspapers such as The Times of India, The Hindu etc. I have travelled across India for research studies and for other academic works, also visited Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Eritrea, Italy, Iran, Indonesia, Malaysia, Peru, Namibia, Sri Lanka etc. as resource person. And for other purposes, I was in Austria, Germany, England, China, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Vatican City, Egypt, Yemen, Qatar, etc. In Rome, FAO, my research paper was appreciated and then Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Sri Rajsekhar Reddy Sir called me and greeted me. I have represented Assam State Hockey Team in All India Junior National Hockey and acted in a Telugu cinema. In January 2019, I have received Life Time Achievement Award under the banner of International Academic Excellence Awards -2019, from EAST (Environmental Advisory for Sustainable Trust), Tamil Nadu, India.