St. Bede's College, Shimla

St. Bede's College is a women's college situated in Navbahar, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India. The institution traces its origins to 1904, when it was founded as a teacher's training institute by the Religious of Jesus and Mary, a religious congregation. Over time, the college expanded its academic offerings and now provides courses in Arts, Commerce, and Sciences. It holds the distinction of being the only college in Himachal Pradesh to have received an 'A+' re-accreditation from the UGC-NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council), reflecting its recognized standard of education. Students of the college are popularly known as Bedians. St. Bede's College has produced a number of notable alumni across various fields, including actresses such as Kalpana Kartik, Preity Zinta, Persis Khambatta, Priya Rajvansh, and Rubina Dilaik; politicians like Pratibha Singh, Preneet Kaur, and Shazia Ilmi; journalist Tavleen Singh; former diplomat Meera Shankar; filmmaker Ish Amitoj Kaur; educator and poet Kamayani Bisht; film producer Anku Pande; MasterChef India winner Shipra Khanna; and British nurse Mona Grey, who became the first Chief Nursing Officer of Northern Ireland. These alumni highlight the college's long-standing role in educating women who have gone on to notable careers in entertainment, politics, journalism, and public service.