St. Xavier's College

St. Xavier's College is a private, Catholic institution in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India, established on 2 January 1869 by German Jesuits with only two students. Swiss Jesuit Joseph Michael Willi served as its first principal. The college was formally recognized by Bombay University on 30 January 1869. It expanded rapidly under Principal Frederick Dreckmann (1884-1910), adding science departments, a hostel, and new buildings. During World War I, German Jesuits were interned, causing administrative disruption later mitigated by other European Jesuits. The college admitted women starting 1912 and expanded language and science offerings through the 1920s and 1930s under leaders like Gonzalo Palacios and Aloysius Coyne, adding a chapel, library, and technical institute. After India's independence, departments like Sociology, Anthropology, and Psychology were introduced. Today it is run by Indian Jesuits with a focus on affirmative action for minority students, offering courses in Arts, Science, Business, Commerce, and Public Policy. It is affiliated with the University of Mumbai, was the first college granted autonomy by that university in 2010, and received an 'A+' NAAC grade in 2006. The campus, built in Indo-Gothic style, is a recognized heritage structure. The college hosted visits from Hillary Clinton in 2009 and Barack Obama in 2010.