Vidyasagar College

Vidyasagar College is a state government-aided public college located in North Kolkata, West Bengal, India, offering both undergraduate and postgraduate courses in arts and science. Founded in 1872, it was the first private college in India (now governmental) run, taught, and financed entirely by Indians, originally known as Metropolitan Institution before being renamed after its founder, Pandit Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, in 1917. The college traces its roots to the Metropolitan Training School, founded in 1859 by Thakurdas Chakraborty, with Vidyasagar joining as President of the Managing Committee in 1860. It gained affiliation from Calcutta University for the First Arts course in 1872, later extending to graduation (1879) and BL courses (1882). The college introduced a Commerce Department in 1922, considered India's oldest, and established separate evening and women's sections, which later became independent institutions. Today, it operates three campuses in Kolkata—Main Campus, Bidhan Sarani Campus, and Bidhannagar Campus—offering 21 undergraduate departments and postgraduate programs in Geography and Zoology. It is affiliated with the University of Calcutta and accredited by NAAC.