ST XAVIERS COLLEGE

St. Xavier's College was founded on 2 January 1869 in Bombay by German Jesuits, beginning with only two students. Swiss Jesuit Joseph Michael Willi served as its first principal from 1869 to 1873. The Bombay University granted the college formal recognition on 30 January 1869. Under Principal Frederick Dreckmann (1884–1910), the college expanded rapidly, adding a hostel (1909) and a science wing (1912). Women were first admitted in 1912. During World War I, German Jesuits were interned, disrupting administration until other European Jesuits took over. By the 1920s, the college added science departments such as Chemistry and Biology, along with new languages. The 1930s saw major architectural expansion under Gonzalo Palacios, including a new library and chapel. After Indian independence, Hindi was introduced and new departments like Sociology, Anthropology, and Psychology were created. The college is affiliated with the University of Mumbai and was the first to receive autonomy from it in 2010. It earned an 'A+' NAAC grade in 2006. Notable visits include U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2009 and President Barack Obama in 2010. The college is Roman Catholic, run by the Society of Jesus through a Governing Body chaired by the Provincial of the Bombay Province.