Kalimpong College is a govt. aided college, was established by the order of the Govt. on the 12th November 1962, affiliated to the University of North Bengal. It is registered under 2 f and 2b of the UGC Act. The College has completed two cycles of NAAC. The first in 2006 and accredited in B and the second in 2016 in B++. The college is now gearing up for the third cycle.Kalimpong College, a pioneer co-educational institution in Kalimpong was established in 1962 with the aim of “providing higher education to the people of the backward place of Kalimpong”. The establishment of College was a long cherished dream come true for the people of Kalimpong. It took almost 98 years for the people of these areas to get an institution of higher learning since the British acquired Kalimpong in 1865 and15 years after Indian independence. The College was started at small building of B.T College with 13 students and later shifted to the Hill Top Area in a rented bungalow. It was further shifted to the ‘Nanduram Building’, Topkhnana, Kalimpong, popularly known as the ‘Oon Godam’ in 1971.The College was without a building of its own for about twenty years jeopardizing its future development. The need to have a building and land of its own was so deeply felt by then that a Joint Action Committee of Students’ and Staff put their body, mind and soul to achieve this objective. The travails of the students and the staff as well as the local people came to a fruitful end when the College building was constructed in its own land at the Rishi Bankim Chandra Park, RingKingPong Road, about 1km up and southwards from Kalimpong Town. Finally, the foundation stone of the new college building was laid by the then Honourable Minister of Higher Education, Govt. of West Bengal, Shri Shambhu Ghosh on 23rd of September 1979. The inauguration of the new College building was held on 6th June 1982 by the then Honourable Governor of West Bengal, Shri. B.D. Pande and there was no looking back since then The College has now in total four buildings with one more coming up with RUSA fund that will take the tally to five.
The mission of the college is to disseminate knowledge by providing access to higher education irrespective ofsocio-economic and cultural background to all the young generation of the relatively underprivileged and marginalized section of the people of the hilly sub division of the state of West Bengal.
Access, equity and quality education was the vision of the college at the time of its inception. During the course of its 60 years of fruitful existence the college has been able to develop adequate physical and human resources required for academic excellence. Hence, now the vision of the college would naturally be the academic excellence in higher education without ignoring its primary vision of Access and Equity.The sacred goal of the college is, therefore, to impart need based time relevant and holistic education to the young generation directed towards building a confident human resource that will be able to lead a life of honesty, integrity, conviction and purpose.Furthermore, the college is all set to build a progressive society that celebrates humanity and benefits from the diversity of the society with a goal of promoting and sustaining social and economic equality in the society.
i.) To provide equal opportunity for higher education at a minimum cost we are opening honours courses in as many subjects as possible and filling up the many vacant teaching posts as possible as per the govt. guidelines. Wherever necessary, additional posts are being created, so that no department is understaffed. That apart, efforts are being continuously made to increase the intake capacity in different honours subjects so that maximum number of applicants can beaccommodated. The college gives admission to all the applicants in General courses (including those who fail to make it in honours course)and if required, students are divided into morning and Day shifts for conducting classes.
ii) To achieve the goal of holistic education the college encourages students to participate in different co-curricuar and extra-curricular activities under the guidance and supervision of dedicated teachers. The college now has 34 committees and sub-committees; some statutory and some purposeful, to look after theacademic, administrative and different student-centric activities of the college.The college also has a very active NSS (unit-I and unit-II) units and 5 Bengal BN Senior Division NCC unit right from 1963 and also a combined unit of both boys and girls since 2009. Now 50% cadets of the college are girls.
iii) Different student-centric programmes like awareness programmes, employment related workshops, virtual learning and skill development workshops, invited lectures, short course on digital learning and soft skill development are being organized by the college. Remedial classes and mentoring pragrammes are organized as and when necessary. The college is,thus, determined to provide students as many opportunities as possible for their capacity building and thereby contribute to the development of society and thereby the nation at large.
iv) To provide and develop Women education.
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I heartily welcome you to the website of Kalimpong College,a pioneer co-educational institution in Kalimpong affiliated to the University of North Bengal, Darjeeling. The college is located on the Durpin ridge contiguous to the Rishi Bankim Chandra Park, almost 1km south of the main town in a serene ambience conducive to the academic pursuits.
The college is NAAC accredited with B Grade in 2016(Cycle-llI) and was awarded Rs 2 crores for college development programmes under Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) 2.0 Scheme- MHRD.
The collegestarted its journey as an institution of higher learning on and from 12th November 1962 fulfilling the long cherished dream of having an institute of higher education at our own place. Therefore, this institution is the pioneer in addressing the long felt need of higher education of the broader-cross section of the relatively marginalized, underprivileged and backward society of northernmost hilly region of West Bengal. In addition to that, the college also has a good number of students from the Dooars and Terai regions of Bengal, the neighbouring states of Sikkim and North-East India, and also from the independent kingdoms of Nepal and Bhutan.
The Alumni of the college have excelled in different fields and comprises of renowned academicians, heads of educational institutions, administrators, successful politicians, lawyers, civil activists, literary figures, sportspersons, businessmen, musicians, dramatists and many other fields, the list of which will be really exhaustive.
The process of establishing this college was initiated by Sri Adhir Ranjan Bose (a great visionary and devoted social activist), the then Principal of Janata College, Kalimpong and under his Chairmanship the college was inaugurated at Basic Training College (now renamed as Kalimpong Government Primary Teachers’ Training Institute) Kalimpong. The classes of 1st Year 3 Years Degree course in Arts then commenced regularly with 23 students and 5 teachers. Sri Indramani Pradhan who taught English was given the duty of Teacher-In-Charge of the college.
The college then had to be shifted to different locations to accommodate the ever increasing number of students till the time the college got its own land and building at the current location in 1982.
The college which started with 3 Years Degree Course in Arts with 23 students and 5 teachers at the beginning is now a multi-stream college offering UG courses in Arts, Science and Commerce and Post Graduate course in Political Science. The college now offers both Honours and general courses in 12 subjects (including BBA – a self financing Honours Course approved by the same university as the college) and only General courses in 7 subjects. The college at present has 64 teaching staff (including 20 SACT Teachers) and 14 non-teaching Staff (including 5 part timers).
The college also has the Indira Gandhi National Open University Learner Support Centre (LSC Code-45019) under Siliguri Regional centre. It Provides Post graduation Courses in 11 subjects, Bachelor of Commerce, Post graduate Diploma Programmes in 9 subjects and Diploma Programme in Women’s Empowerment and Development. The college has multipurpose smart classrooms and one of them is being used as a Civil Service Study Centre for the online coaching classes.
The college has a three storied well equipped Central Library with over 21000 books, many journals and magazines. The library is also linked with e-resources known as e-Shodh Sindhu or INFLIBNET. The students can access more than a lakh books and 4 hundred journals using this e-platform. Besides, the library also has computers with internet facility solely for the use of the students, and audio-visual facility for conducting any kind of academic activities. Furthermore, the library has a magazine archive, online question paper bank and book bank facility for targeted group of students. The library also offers services of photocopying and computer printing at a subsidized rate to the students.
We are proud to state here that the college celebrated its Diamond Jubilee in November 2022 and during its journey of 60 long years it has gone through many difficult periods, some political and some natural, yet the college has never deviated from its goal of educating and uplifting the underprivileged and marginalized section of the society of Kalimpong District and its surrounding regions, neighbouring states and countries.
The Governing Body, the highest administrative body of the college governs the management of the college in compliance with the opinion of the majority of its members.
The Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC),a participative and facilitative unit of the college works very closely with the faculty members of the college and plan out best possible strategies focusing on quality enhancement of the institution.
The Strength of our college is the exemplary bond and mutual respect that exist among the administrative machinery, teaching and non-teaching staff and the students of the college. The college strongly believes in inclusive and participatory management approach and hence all the staff members are involved directly or indirectly in managing the business of the college as a member of various statutory and non-statutory committees and sub-committees of the college.
The NAAC accreditation with Grade B++ in 2016 has amply proved that the college has tremendous potentiality in making itself as one of the premier institutions of higher learning in the near future. Now the college is gearing up for the third cycle of NAAC accreditation.
Kalimpong College provides a safe, caring and inclusive environment where students are encouraged to explore, experiment, investigate and ultimately provide a real, relevant and holistic educationto produce confident young men and women who will be able to lead a life of conviction and purpose.
The college has taken all possible measures to provide basic civic utilities to its stakeholders. The Kalimpong College Alumni Association has installed a heavy-duty Aqua Guard Water Filter with a capacity of 2000lt/hr. Keeping in view the problem of water scarcity and the huge demand of water for sanitation the college has completed its Rainwater and Sanitation Project in its premises with the support of Rotary Clubs of Kelso (Scotland) and Rotary Club of Kalimpong. It is fully operational now.
We are well convinced that the combined effort of college administration, parents, guardians, alumni and all the stakeholders will definitely help to ascertain the brighter future of the college.
Knowledge is the key to success and prosperity, and themain six essential qualities that are key to success are Sincerity, Personal Integrity, Humility, Courtesy, Wisdom and Charity. Therefore, the college,besides the normal teaching also aims at instilling the above qualities among the students and encourage them to be the leader in all walks of life and bring a desirable change in the society. The college fosters an atmosphere of intellectual vigour and rectitude in which the stakeholders may find fulfillment and achieve greatness as eminent youth of society. The college firmly acknowledges the duty it has to deliver for preparing young minds to face challenges of an emerging knowledge-society which is changing at an unprecedented pace.
The Covid-19 pandemic has taught us many difficult lessons. It was devastating at some point of time but has also opened up new ways of communicating and interacting with the learners. The shift towards digital learning and virtual administrative operation have definitely helped the students to continue their studies at a minimum cost and with least interruption. Now the pandemic is well controlled but the online and blended method of teaching will continue to benefit the learners forever. The college is helping students to take part in many online academic programmes and keep them academically active and satisfied.
The system of periodic teacher evaluation done by the students, regular parents teacher meeting, regular supervision by Academic Sub-committee and IQAC and the internal monitoring mechanism for the teacher and administration of the college are some of the regulating mechanism through which the academic ambience is sustained.
As the college is located in the semi-urban hill area and inhabited mostly by Scheduled caste, scheduled Tribe, Minorities and socio-economically weaker section of society, the college has a great task of uplifting them educationally and socio-economically. The task is difficult but we are determined to deliver what is good to transform the society with our perseverance, sincerity, dedication and commitment for value based education.
With Best Wishes,
TIC, Smt. Devi Chhetri,
Associate Professor
Kalimpong College is affiliated to North Bengal University, Raja Rammohunpur, Siliguri , Darjeeling.
Two Semesters each for each year and the total of six Semesters. In the present situation NBU will specify the timeframe of the Semester.
| # | Title | View Certificate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Affiliation Certificate | View |
Kalimpong College is recognized by UGC under Section 2(f) and 12B of the UGC Act,1956.
| # | Title | View Certificate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | UGC Recognition Certificate | View |
| 1. Established |
12th November, 1962 |
| 2. NBU Affiliation |
Yes |
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3. UGC Recognition: |
Yes |
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4. Campus Area: |
1.82 Acre |
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5. Teaching Posts Sanctioned: |
49 |
|
6. Existing Full Time Teachers: |
43 |
|
7. No. of SACT: |
20 |
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8. Permanent Non-Teaching Staffs: |
05 |
|
9. No. of Books in Library: |
21000 |
|
10. Total No. of Current Students: |
1603 |
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11. Departments: |
17 |
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12. Total Student Intake Capacity(1st Sem Admission) |
1325 |
Kalimpong college at present has 7 separate blocks. Block A – The Old Main Building. Block B The Golden Jubilee Central Building, Block C –The three storied Building facing north to Block A, Block D- Library Building, and Block E-the new addition RUSA Building. F canteen Block G Lavatories for both boys and girls.
Block A- The Old Main Building- which accommodates all Laboratory based departments was the oldest building of the College. It has a total of 31 (including present staff room, NCC Room, and girls common Room rooms with a hall sitting capacity of 300 people. The classes for Morning Section( 6;45 am to 10 a.m) i.e B.Com Programme and Honours are held in this building. And both theory and practical classes of all the science subjects like Botany, Zoology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics and Geography and some of the classes of Social Sciences and Literature are held in this block. The plan is to make this block, a Science Block.
Block B-The Golden Jubilee Central Building was constructed in an area of 1207 sq.m. It was inaugurated by Dr. Harka Bahadur Chhetri, MLA, Kalimpong and also a college alumni, on 13.03.2012. Presently, the ground floor of the building is used as Satyendra Nath Tagore Coaching centre for Civil Service examinations, IGNOU Study Centre and a Sick Room. While the 1st floor is used for Management Studies Center where all three self-financing courses viz. BBA, Travel and Tourism Management and Communicative English are taught. The second floor includes Principal's and Vice Principal’s chambers, Administrative Office and also has a meeting room. Two more floors above this building are under construction where the college plans to set up an auditorium and a staff room.
Block C –The three storied Building facing north to Block A- This block contains three big rooms with a sitting capacity of 150 students each. Apart from this, three other smaller rooms of the block are also being used as classroom. There is one big open sitting area in the first floor with cement benches dedicated to the students’ use. At the top floor, a Conference Room is being planned, the room is ready and gadgets to make it functional will be installed as soon as the building is handed over to the College by the Kalimpong Engineering Deptt , GTA.
Block D-Library Building The foundation stone of the library building was laid by Prof Bratya Basu, the then Hon'ble education minister, Govt. of West Bengal on 13.03.2012. Prof. Tanka Bahadur Subba, Hon'ble Vice-Chancellor of Sikkim University, also a member of the Alumni inaugurated the Library Building on 26.06.2015. This three storied building covering 733 sq. m has been funded by the Higher Education Department, Government of West Bengal. The upper two floors are used for reading and storage with free entry for all teachers and students in all sections. The library has a broadband internet connection and is a Wi-Fi zone. It is equipped with CC Camera. It also has INFLIBNET (N List which has around 3 lakhs books and 4oo journals) facility for which each member has been given user ID and pass word by the Librarian. The College has a Library containing over 21482 books, journals and periodicals on various subjects. Students can borrow books through a library card. Detail guidelines and rules relating to borrowing of books and reading room are generally provided in the library notice board.
Block E-RUSA Building- A new building with 9 spacious class rooms is under construction with the Rusa fund. With the completion of this building the constant shortage of class rooms will be solved.
The steps linking the old college building and the new one has been constructed from the MLA development fund on 09.10.2013.
Canteen: The two storied building has been constructed as Canteen by the GTA Fund. With this building the long-standing demand for proper Canteen has been fulfilled. A clean, airy canteen with proper kitchen, water supply and with a space to accommodate 80 persons (approx) at a time, indeed providing both the students and staff of the college healthy and hygienic food.
Classroom: We have 36 spacious classrooms with proper lighting and audio facilities. Rooms are airy and properly ventilated. We have 07 large sized classrooms (Rooms 17, 26, 30, 31, 32, 33) and a Hall. They are also used for conducting examinations also. These rooms are also used by the commerce section in the morning shift.
Auditorium: A small Hall with a capacity of approximately 300 students is used for conducting seminars, workshops and all cultural and other programmes. This multipurpose Hall is also used as a classroom. Some of the bigger events are conducted in the Town Hall on hire. A conference room at block C has been constructed and soon it will be ready for use. A new auditorium with larger capacity is under construction in Block B.
Laboratory: There are 6 laboratories in block B, which are used for conducting practical’s, project works and also theory classes. The Botany department maintains herbarium of local flora, and locally available botanical specimens are also kept in the laboratory. The numbers of rooms occupied by each practical oriented subject are: Botany (3); Zoology (2); Geography (2); Physics (1); Chemistry (4); Mathematics (2). All the laboratory rooms are equipped with LCD projectors, white boards, white screens and internet connectivity.
Computer Lab: The College has two computer laboratories - one for teachers with three computers and the other for BBA students with 10 computers. Both the rooms are connected with internet facility.
Smart Room: The College has one smart room with a smart board, projector, computer and sitting arrangement for 50 students. Presently it is dedicated to Satyendranath Coaching Centre.
Seminar Hall: The College hall is used for organizing seminars, workshops etc. and in normal times as a classroom. It can accommodate approximately 300 persons.
Water Facility: The College has water harvesting reservoir which has been funded by the Rotary club of Kalimpong and Kelso, Selkirk and castle Douglas, R.I. District 1020 (Scotland) in the year 2011-2012. The college Alumni has funded the installation of big and safe drinking water filter with the capacity of 2000 lph for the entire college on 2015.
Car Parking: College car parking can accommodate a good numbers of two wheelers as well as four wheelers. Mostly students’ vehicles are parked in this parking area.
The college campus is Wi-Fi enabled.
The college has installed CCTV Surveillance System.
