Ramakrishna Mission Residential College, Narendrapur

The history of Ramakrishna Mission Residential College is similar to that of its parent organization, Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Narendrapur. In 1943, in the wake of the disastrous Bengal Famine, a handful of spirited and dedicated monks of the Ramakrishna Order set up a students’ home at Pathuriaghata in North Kolkata.

The home was housed on a small plot of land earmarked for the education of young college and university students. It slowly but steadily accumulated a reputation for nurturing meritorious but indigent students. In 1957, the home was relocated to a larger compound at Narendrapur. Within a short span of time, it acquired an enviable stature under the dynamic leadership and persistent efforts of the late Swami Lokeswarananda, the founder-secretary, and his team of teachers. The acorn has now grown into a massive oak. The campus of the Ashrama is spread over 150 acres of land, dotted with flower gardens, orchards, mango groves, and water bodies. Far away from the squalor and clutter of the city, the Ashrama boasts quite a few centres of excellence, Ramakrishna Mission Residential College (Autonomous) being amongst them.

The college was established on the Ashrama campus in July 1960. Affiliated to the University of Calcutta, its first batch of students commenced classes in August 1960. Much later, in 1976, the Higher Secondary Unit of the West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education started functioning on the college premises, but was shifted to the Vidyalaya after 2006. Autonomous status was conferred upon the college in 2008. Fully residential, this boys' college follows the same principles and objectives as all other institutions functioning under the aegis of the Ramakrishna Mission.[4]

There is a three-year semester system for an undergraduate degree. The core subjects available to a student based on the Choice Based Credit System (CBCS) are Chemistry, Computer Science, Physics, Mathematics, Statistics, Economics, English, Bengali, Sanskrit, History, Political Science, and Philosophy.

There is a two-year semester system for a postgraduate degree. The courses available to a student are Chemistry, Computer Science, Physics, and English.

Ramakrishna Mission Residential College (Autonomous), Narendrapur is also a recognised research centre under the University of Calcutta (vide Syndicate Resolution No. Permission/690/UCAC/C.U. dt. 14.05.2015).

The University of Calcutta has granted Ramakrishna Mission Residential College (Autonomous), Narendrapur the permission to start Vivekananda Centre for Research to conduct M. Phil./Ph.D. courses from the academic session 2015–16 (vide letter No. Permission/690/UCAC/C.U. dt. 14.05.2015). The institution has the requisite infrastructure to conduct post-doctoral research work too.

Moreover, it has been also conducting regular Ph.D. courses in physics, chemistry and mathematics.[5]

Ramakrishna Mission Residential College has been ranked 19th among colleges in India by the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) in 2022.[7]

The campus of the college occupies 181 acres (0.73 km²). The college campus contains hostels, libraries, multi-gyms, swimming pools, sports facilities, and medical facilities.

There are four hostels under the supervision of the college:

Brahmananda Bhavan: In the presence of Swami Lokeswaranandaji Maharaj (the founding monk of the Narendrapur Ashrama) and other dignitaries, Morarji Desai, then-Finance Minister of India, inaugurated the building. The oldest of all the hostels at Narendrapur Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama opened on 5 December 1958.[8]

Shree Gouranga Bhavan: This bhavan possesses a distinctive characteristic in the form of a centrally positioned open airspace. The hostel is oriented towards the east.

Ramakrishnananda Bhavan: This bhavan is a three-story building with an adjoining dining hall.

Adbhutananda Bhavan: This bhavan is a three-story building dedicated to the accommodation of college students.

The college also provides a library.[9] The college building has four floors. A swimming pool beside the Brahmananda Bhavana was recently inaugurated.

On 16 September 2018, Sarada Mandir, the college annexe, was inaugurated by the president of Belur Math, Swami Smaranananda.

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• Education in West Bengal

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