Historical Perspective

Gokhale Memorial Girls College was conceived/visualised as an extension of Gokhale School, a pioneer Institution in the sphere of women’s education in Bengal which was founded in 1920 by an eminent educationist Sarala Debi. As the eldest daughter of the renowned Brahmo reformer Durgamohan Das she was privileged to receive school education from the prestigious Bango Mahila Bidyalay, a Bramho enterprise, to enable women to enter the threshold of the university. After almost a century of being objects of education programmes organised by male agencies, women were eager to take control of their own intellectual advancement. Education had opened up a new horizon for Sarala Debi and like some of her peers she felt impelled to take up the cause of women less empowered in this respect.

Throughout the nineteenth century, Bengali women were being subjected to social change because their degraded position evoked consternation and criticism from both Christian missionaries and colonial officials and was a source of constant embarrassment to the indigenous patriarchy. Assaulted by the cultural imperialism of the ruling race, Bengali literati were forced to seek an altered and improved self-image, which led them to accept the Orientalist frame of reference that offered them a chance of redemption through acceptance of a perceived “Aryan” tradition wherein Hindu women at a distant but glorious past had received the highest form of education.Bengali intellectuals, particularly the college-educated youth were awed by the sheer novelty of the multitude of ideas emanating from the West. Specifically, the Brahmos were profoundly affected by Victorian viewpoints regarding the training of an “ideal woman”, which when tempered by the growing spirit of nationalism led to the construction of an indigenous model, of which Sarala Debi is an excellent example. She made history, along with Kadambini Basu, by being the first woman candidate to be allowed to sit for the University Examination in the entire British Empire and though she had to give up formal education on account of her marriage, she continued to cherish her dream of higher education for women which found expression through the establishment of Gokhale Memorial Girl’s School and College.   

On  20April 1920 Sarala Debi, now Mrs. P.K.Ray_a homemaker, mother and social activist, initiated a project very close to her heart i.e. an educational institution for girls’ named after the eminent educationist and politician who was also her mentor in social activism- Gopal Krishna Gokhale. In 1938 the College came into existence as students passing the Matriculation Examination went on to study the Intermediate Course in certain subjects. Among the first batch of proud students who passed with flying colours was Mrs.Santwana  Lahiri, the present Honorary  Secretary of the Governing Body of the College. At this time the Principal of the Institution was Dr. S.E. Rani Ghosh, the spiritual successor of Mrs. Ray and one of her most trusted ‘educational workers’. Under her able guidance the College made rapid progress, which was carried forward by her successors. A brief overview may be presented as follows: -

• In 1938 affiliation was granted by the Calcutta University upto I.A.standard in English, Vernacular (Bengali, Hindi), Sanskrit, History, Geography, Commercial Geography, Mathematics and Civics.
• In 1940 affiliation was granted upto I.A.standard to Logic and Alternative English.
• In 1948 affiliation was granted upto I.Sc.standard to English, Vernacular, Physics, Chemistry, Geography, Biology.
• In 1955 affiliation was granted upto I.Sc. Standard to Alternative English and upto I.A. standard to Alternative Vernacular. (Bengali and Hindi)
• In 1957 affiliation was granted upto I.A.and I.Sc standard to Psychology and upto B.A. standard(pass) to English, Bengali, Hindi, Alternative English, Additional and Alternative Bengali, Economics, Philosophy, History, Mathematics, Psychology, Geography.
• In1960 the College was informed by the Calcutta University that Economics and Political Science have been split up into two and the College should apply and the for affiliation in Political Science (Pass/Honours).
• In 1965 affiliation was granted upto B.A.standard (Honours) to English and Political Science,as well as B.A.and B.Sc standard (Honours)to Geography.
• In 1969 affiliation was granted upto B.A and B.Sc standard (Honours) to Psychology
• In 1970 affiliation was granted upto B.A.standard (Pass) to Education.
• In 1984 affiliation was granted upto B.A.standard (Honours) in History, B.A.standard (Honours) in Education, B.A.and B.Sc(Honours)  in Economics and B.Sc(Honours) in Mathematics .
• In 1994 the College was allowed to open Major Courses in Advertising Sales Promotion and Sales Management,Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics  and Communicative English.
• In 2002 affiliation was granted upto B.A. standard (Honours) in Bengali, Hindi and Philosophy
• In 2003 the College was allowed to open Self-Financing Course in Electronics (Honours).

THE PRIME MOVERS

SARALA RAY
Sarala Ray’s new found sense of identity was wrought out of many conflicting influences to which she was subjected. In her person, liberal Brahmo tendencies went hand in hand with growing Nationalist sentiments and Victorian sensibilities interfaced with a nascent feminist consciousness. While on one hand she stressed virtues like frugality, orderliness and punctuality should be nurtured in girls to improve the quality of Indian domesticity, she often went beyond the bounds of Victorian morality as when staging a show by girls in the Corinthean theatre as early as 1920, risking many raised eye- brows. She wanted to make her students self reliant and the training in laundry, cooking, sewing and darning , repairing simple household goods were not concessions to “femininity” but lessons in independence . It is significant that she desired her students to be not only “good wives and mothers” but “good citizens” as well and was articulating the growing sentiments that touched the intellegentsia of that time. It was this feeling of nationalism which prompted Mrs.Ray to adopt an all- India approach towards education. Her students had to learn English and Hindi along with Bengali and Sanskrit. That she was successful in shedding Bengali parochialism is borne out by the number of non-Bengali girls put in her care- K.M.Panikkar’s daughters and Nandita Kripalani, to name the more illustrious. Muslim girls from aristocratic families like Azizul Haq’s daughters also attended this institution.

S.E. RANI GHOSH
Sarala Ray passed away in 1946 and Rani Ghosh, a distinguished teacher who understood the objectives of the institution became its principal and remained so until she died on 18th November 1961. Born in an Indian Christian family, she made education her vocation early in life and it was through her conviction and competence that Gokhale Memorial Girls College could achieve eminence. She was a student of English honours who received her teacher’s diploma from London University and Advanced course of Psychology and Pedagogy diploma from Edinburgh University .She joined this institution in 1923, received a doctorate in 1958 from the Calcutta University on child psychology and was in the midst of preparations for the Sarala Ray centenary celebrations when just one month before the function she passed away.

SULEKHA ROY
The next principal was Ms. Sulekha Roy daughter of Pramadaronjon Roy and elder sister of the eminent author Lila Majumder. Born in 15th April 1907 she spent her childhood in Shillong. Coming to Calcutta in 1919 she studied in Diocesan School and Loreto College. She joined as a teacher of Gokhale Memorial Girls School and College in the 1930’s and became the principal when Rani Ghosh passed away.

The Calcutta University vide letter dated 14.1.1959  instructed that the college should be distinct from the school , and there should be a separate principal and a separate set of teachers and separate accounts . But the school and college were so inextricably linked that this could not be achieved till much later in the 1969.

“New students coming into the Gokhale Memorial Girls’ School and College inherit something from all who have gone before. Ideals and traditions have been built up through the years…”remarked Rani Ghosh. Sarala Ray wanted the girls to have an upbringing which gave them the opportunity to show how worthwhile the women of India could be. The cultural side with music and drawing, sports and games was emphasized. She set forth her ideals clearly” not merely to cram and pass out” but to evolve into conscientious and complete beings. The objectives of the College still remain the same- to help our students think independently, work sincerely and find self-sufficiency.

Members of the Governing Body

• Vacant, President
• Sm. Santwana Lahiri, Hony. Secretary
• Sm. Sumita Sanyal,  Hony. Joint Secretary
• Sm. Mira Bhattacharya, Hony. Joint Secretary
• Shri S.K. Dasgupta, Hony. Treasurer
• Prof. Anil Sarkar, Member
• Sm. Chitra Pal Chowdhury
• Sm. Kumkum Mukherjee, Member
• Sm. Kumkum Banerjee, Member
• Sm. Sheuli Chatterjee, Member
• Member, Govt. nominee, vacant
• Dr. Chitrita Roychoudhury, Teacher-In-Charge, Member
• Dr. Jhuma Bandyopadhyay, Bursar, Member
• Dr. Sm. Lapita Sarkar, Member, Teacher Representative
• Dr. Sm. Sarmila Sarkar, Member, Teacher Representative
• Dr. Sm. Sharmi Chakraborty, Member, Teacher Representative
• Shri Kamal Bhattacharya, Member, Non Teaching Staff Representative
• Shri Narayan Chandra Saha, Member, Non Teaching Staff Representative

Department Highlights

B.Sc. Honours Courses:

Department of Economics:
The Department is offering Honours Course since the year 1984 and has the following distinctions-.

• Hundred percent success in the University Examinations
• Considerable number of first classes in the last two batches
• Individual care
• Value addition through various curricular and co-curricular activities

Future Prospects

• Higher studies in Economics and related subjects
• Eligibility to appear for competitive examinations for entrance to MBA courses
• Employment opportunities in teaching, civil services, media and the corporate sector

Department of Electronics:
The Department is offering Honours Course since the year 2003 and has the following distinctions-

• Well equipped laboratories
• High Teacher- Student Ratio enabling individual care
• Low tuition fees compared to other colleges
• Hundred percent success and high proportion of first classes among students of all outgoing batches.
• Rank positions in the University in all outgoing batches
• Placement assistance leading to placement of students in the Tata Consultancy Service Ltd. and Wipro BPO

        Future prospects:       

• Higher Studies in Electronics, B.Tech, MCA
• Employment opportunities in teaching, IT Sector, Telecom Sector
• Opportunity to sit for competitive Examinations for management courses, civil services etc.
• Opportunity for recruitment from campus by renowned organizations like IBM, TCS

        
Department of Geography:
The Department is offering Honours Course since the year 1965 and has the following distinctions-

• A long tradition in Honours level teaching
• Well equipped laboratories upgraded with computers and GIS software
•  High proportion of first classes
• Rank positions in the University

Future prospects:

• Higher Studies in Geography or any other related subject
• Employment opportunities in teaching, NGOs, NATMO, SOI etc.
• Opportunity to sit for competitive examinations for management courses, civil services etc.

Department of Mathematics

• The Department is offering Honours Course since the year 1986 and has the following distinctions
• Individual care
• Placement assistance leading to placement of students in  Wipro BPO

Future prospects:

• Higher Studies in Mathematics,  MCA
• Employment opportunities in teaching, IT Sector
• Opportunity to sit for competitive examinations for management courses, civil services etc.
• Opportunity for recruitment from campus by renowned organizations like IBM, TCS

Department of Psychology:

• The Department is offering Honours Course since the year 1970 and has the following distinctions-
• A long tradition in Honours level teaching
• Individual care
• Well equipped laboratories
• High proportion of first classes
• Rank positions in the University in all batches

Future prospects:

• Higher Studies in Psychology or related subjects
• Employment opportunities in teaching, CounselIing, Industry, Clinics, hospitals, rehabilitation centres
• Opportunity to sit for competitive examinations for management courses, civil services etc.

B.A. Honours Courses:

Department of Bengali:

• The Department is offering Honours Course since the year 2002 and has the following distinctions-
• Hundred percent success in the University Examinations
• High  percentage of first classes in the previous batch
• University rank positions
• High  teacher- student ratio enabling  individual care
• Value addition through various curricular and co-curricular activities

Future prospects:

• Higher Studies in Bengali literature or related subjects
• Employment opportunities in teaching, print media, electronic media and publishing houses
• Opportunity to sit for competitive examinations for management courses, civil services etc.

Department of Education:

• The Department is offering Honours Course since the year 1984 and has the following distinctions-
• Hundred percent success in the University Examinations
• High percentage of first classes in the previous batch
• University rank positions
• High  teacher- student ratio enabling individual care
• Value addition through various curricular and co-curricular activities

Future prospects:

• Higher Studies in Education or related subjects
• Employment opportunities in teaching, counselling, educational management, Inspectorates ,NGOs, media
• Opportunity to sit for competitive examinations for management courses, civil services etc

Department of English:

• The Department is offering Honours Course since the year 1965 and has the following distinctions-
• A long tradition in Honours level teaching
• Individual care
• Hundred percent success in the University Examinations
• Value addition through various curricular and co-curricular activities

Future prospects:

• Higher Studies in English literature,language or related subjects
• Employment opportunities in teaching, print media, electronic media, publishing Houses
• Opportunity to sit for competitive examinations for management courses, civil services etc

Department of Hindi:

• The Department is offering Honours Course since the year 2002 and has the following distinctions-
• Hundred percent success in the University Examinations
• High  teacher- student ratio  enabling  individual care
• Value addition through various curricular and co-curricular activities

Future prospects:

• Higher Studies in Hindi literature or related subjects
• Employment opportunities in teaching, print media, electronic media, publishing Houses
• Opportunity to sit for competitive examinations for management courses, civil services etc

Department of History:

• The Department is offering Honours Course since the year 1984 and has the following distinctions-
• Hundred percent success in the University Examinations
• High  percentage of first classes in the previous batch
• University rank positions
• High  teacher- student ratio  enabling  individual care
• Value addition through various curricular and co-curricular activities

Future prospects:

• Higher Studies in History or related subjects
• Employment opportunities in teaching, ASI, National and State Archives, Research centres
• Opportunity to sit for competitive examinations for management courses, civil services etc

Department of Philosophy:

• Study of Philosophy Honours helps to develop an outlook to face several challenges of life.  The Department is offering Honours Course since the year 2002 and has the following distinctions-
• First class from the first batch
• Hundred percent success in the Final University Examinations
• High  teacher- student ratio  enabling  individual care
• Value addition through various curricular and co-curricular activities

Future prospects:

• Higher Studies in philosophy or related subjects
• Employment opportunities in teaching, counselling, legal cells, Research centres
• Opportunity to sit for competitive examinations for management courses, civil services etc

Department of Political Science:

• The Department is offering Honours Course since the year 1966 and has the following distinctions-
• A long tradition in Honours level teaching
• Hundred percent success in the University Examinations
• First class with University rank positions
• Individual care through tutor  : ward system
• Value addition through various curricular and co-curricular activities

Future prospects:

• Higher Studies in Political Science or related subjects
• Employment opportunities in teaching, media, publishing houses, research centres
• Opportunity to sit for competitive examinations for management courses, civil services etc

B.A./B.Sc Major Courses
Department of Advertising, Sales Promotion and sales Management:

• The Department is offering Major Course since the year 1994 and has the following distinctions-
• Hundred percent success in the University Examinations
• High  percentage of first classes
• University rank positions
• Job training in renowned organizations
• Value addition through computer training
• Value addition through special programme in Entrepreneurship Development in collaboration with Merrill Lynch and NFTE, USA and I- Create, India
• Placement assistance leading to placement in renowned organisations

Future prospects:

• Higher Studies in Management and other professional courses
• Employment opportunities in advertising agencies, media and corporate houses
• Opportunity to sit for competitive examinations for management courses, civil services etc
• Opportunities for self employment
• Opportunity for campus recruitment in BPO Organisations, Marketing and Advertising Agencies

Department of Communicative English:
The Department is offering Major Course since the year 1994 and has the following distinctions-

• Hundred percent success in the University Examinations
• High  percentage of first classes in all batches
• University rank positions
• High  teacher: student enabling  individual care
• Job training in renowned organizations
• Value addition through computer training
• Value addition through special programme in Entrepreneurship Development in collaboration with Merrill Lynch and NFTE, USA and I- Create, India
• Placement assistance leading to placement in renowned organisations

Future prospects:

• Higher Studies in ELT, Management and other professional courses
• Employment in sectors that require communication skills
• Opportunity to sit for competitive examinations for management courses, civil services etc
• Self employment
• Opportunity for campus recruitment in BPO Organisations, Marketing and Advertising Agencies

Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics:
The Department is offering Major Course since the year 1994 and has the following distinctions-

• Hundred percent success in the University Examinations
• High  percentage of first classes in all batches
• University rank positions
• Job training in renowned NGOs, Hospitals and Clinics
• Well equipped laboratories
• Value addition through various curricular and co-curricular activities
• Value addition through special programme in Entrepreneurship Development in collaboration with Merrill Lynch and NFTE, USA and I- Create, India

Future prospects:

• Higher studies
• Employment as Dieticians in hospitals, clinics and nursing homes
• Social work and community development
• Employment in NGOs

General Course Subjects:
Department of Chemistry:

• The Department is offering graduate level programmes since 1955 and has the following distinctions-
• A long tradition in the  teaching of Chemistry at the graduation level
• Well equipped Laboratory
• High Teacher- Student ratio enabling individual care
• Satisfactory Results in the University Examinations
• Active engagement of the faculty in internationally acknowledged research work

Future prospects:

• Higher Studies in Chemistry or related subjects
• Employment opportunities in teaching, Chemical industries, Research Organisations, R&D and production units in various  sectors

Department of Physics:
The Department is offering graduate level programmes since 1955 and has the following distinctions-

• A long tradition in the  teaching of Physics at the graduation level
• Well equipped Laboratory
• High Teacher- Student ratio enabling individual care
• Major Research works by the faculty, internationally acknowledged
• Hundred percent success in the University Examinations
• Special attention in laboratory work
• Value addition through various curricular and co-curricular activities

Future prospects:

• Higher Studies in Physics or related subjects
• Employment opportunities in teaching, IT Sector, Research Organisations, R&D Departments in the corporate sector

Department of Sanskrit:

• The Department is offering graduate level programmes since 1955 and has the following distinctions-
• A long tradition in the  teaching of Sanskrit
• High Teacher- Student ratio enabling individual care
• Hundred percent success in the University Examinations
• Retaining the cultural heritage of the nation
• Invaluable aid for the study of Philosophy, Bengali and Hindi literature and language

Future prospects:

• Higher Studies in Sanskrit or related subjects
• Employment opportunities in teaching, museums, ASI and archives