Ravenshaw University is a 150-year-old prestigious co-educational institution situated in the city of Cuttack. Founded in 1868, as Ravenshaw College, the institution became a university in 2006. Being one of the oldest institutes in the country, its grandeur is often addressed as the ‘Red Empire’.
MOTTO: “Jñānameva Shakti” (Knowledge is Power).
TYPE: State University
AFFILIATION: UGC
ESTABLISHED: 1868(as College); 2006(as University)
LOCATION: Cuttack, Odisha, India
CAMPUS: Urban
WEBSITE: www.ravenshawuniversity.ac.in
CHANCELLOR: Governor of Odisha
VICE-CHANCELLOR: Prof. Ishant Kumar Patro
The Past
In 1866, the people of Odisha along with some liberal Britons wanted to start a college at Cuttack. It was then, that the officiating commissioner of Odisha, Thomas Edward Ravenshaw, not only made the Bengal Government realise the difficulties of the Odia students in getting a college education, but he also obtained permission to start collegiate classes in the Cuttack Zilla School. In January 1868, it emerged as the first college in the state and conducted intermediate classes with six students. In 1876, the collegiate school turned into a full-fledged Government degree college, bearing the name Cuttack College, affiliated to the University of Calcutta. Samuel Ager was the first Principal and the college taught only 19 students.
The name of the college was changed to Ravenshaw College in 1878, after Thomas Edward Ravenshaw, to commemorate his services to the cause of higher education in Odisha. By 1881, the college was granted a permanent status, and the student strength had increased to 97 by the end of the 19th century, which included many of our freedom fighters as graduates. After 1912, many developments were seen in the college. Teachers from the Indian Education Service
were appointed as professors, and subjects such as History, Persian and Political Economy were included. Changes were augmented to teach science at B.Sc. level.
The famous Kanika Library was established, the staff appointment strengthened and several new subjects of the mainstream were introduced. There was also a drastic increase in the strength of students in the late nineteenth century, to 375 in 1915. Ravenshaw also witnessed the country’s freedom struggle and most of the Odia freedom fighters graduated from this college. In fact, many of the early Chief Ministers of the state were all Ravenshawvians.
The Present
Ravenshaw has been accorded an autonomous status since 1989, and the State University status since 2006, under the Ravenshaw University Act. It subsequently got affiliated to the University Grants Commission and since then, a number of self-financing courses have been introduced and the strength of students as well as of the faculty members has increased by a remarkable margin. The campus covers around 87.4 acres of land and the red empire witnesses the magnanimity of the Gothic Architecture.
Academics
Ravenshaw University has nine degree-granting schools which offer undergraduate programs in science, arts, commerce, management, computer science, electronics and telecommunication, hospitality and hotel management, as well as information and technology. Postgraduate programs are offered in science, arts, commerce, management and computer application. Programs under Master of Philosophy and a Doctoral degree are provided in science, arts and commerce.
The schools under Ravenshaw teach subjects in the fields of Language, Regional Studies & Earth Science, Social Science, Life Science, Mathematical Science, Information & Computer Science, Physical Science, Commerce and Management Studies. Admissions to various study programs are done through entrance examinations held every year.
Campus
The current campus is situated in the heart of Cuttack and is built on 87-acres of land. The university has acquired another 140 acres of land, located in Naraj for its new disciplines, management and applied sciences. The current campus is very close to Cuttack Railway Station and is about a 45-minutes’ drive away from Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar.
The campus includes a branch of the State Bank of India, two ATMs, one of SBI and the other of Axis Bank, a post office, a gymnasium, a student information bureau, an indoor sports complex and a dispensary. The campus includes 13 hostels, 7 for boys and 6 for girls, which accommodate a total of 1400 boys and 2200 girls in its capacity.
Library
Established in 1922, Kanika Library today stands as the oldest library in the state. With progress in time and generations, the library has undergone many changes to sync itself with the need of the hour. The library works as an integrated management system based on an automation process by the use of computer technology which provides management through the online mode.
A digital library is also set up within its premises which offer innovative services like the Ravenshaw Knowledge Portal, an On-line Reading Room, a UGC INFLIB Network, online journals, e-resources and much more.
Hostel facilities
Out of the 13 hostels, Mahanadi Girls Hostel and Lalitgiri Boys Hostel are built most recently with a capacity of accommodating 600 girls and 400 boys respectively. The hostels are featured with well furnished rooms, large mess areas, study rooms, gyms, canteens and recreational spaces. The hostels of
Ravenshaw provide security as well as a responsible crew to look after the hostelites.
Extracurricular activities
Ravenshaw has been maintaining its name not only in academics, but also in extracurricular activities like sports, yoga, gymnastics, dance, music, quizzes, debates, drama, NCC, NSS, MUN and TedEx sessions. The playground hosts several state-level sports matches, exhibitions, camps and book fairs which keeps it occupied all throughout the year.
The annual sports event of the university is accompanied by innovative events, one of them being a food fest. There are various clubs and societies as well, which conduct a number of events throughout the year.
Notable Alumini
Over the years, the institution has produced a large number of magnificent personalities who have established themselves, not only within the country, but also across the world. They have left a mark of their presence everywhere, including in our hearts. Some of them are freedom fighters like Madhusudan Das, Gopabandhu Das and Biswanath Das, academicians like Trilochan Pradhan and Jogesh Pati, writers like Pratibha Ray and Devdas Chhotray, and political leaders like Biju Patnaik and Nandini Satpathy.
About the author
An undergraduate in Economics at Ravenshaw University, Cuttack. Poems, people and stars fascinate me. Empathy and gratitude is what I look for, within and around me.
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