175th Anniversary of Sanskrit College, Calcutta
Technical Data
| Date of Issue | February 25, 1999 |
|---|---|
| Denomination | Rs. 3 |
| Quantity | 700,000 |
| Perforation | comb 13½ x 13 |
| Printer | Security Printing Press, Nashik |
| Watermark | No Watermark |
| Colors | Chestnut | Yellow ochre |
| Catalog Codes |
Michel IN 1676 Stamp Number IN 1735 Yvert et Tellier IN 1443 Stanley Gibbons IN 1839 |
| Themes | Anniversaries and Jubilees | Buildings | Schools |
Table of Contents
175th Anniversary of Sanskrit College, Calcutta
The Sanskrit College, Calcutta, founded on January 1, 1824, is one of the oldest and most prestigious educational institutions in the Indian subcontinent. Here’s a detailed overview of its history and significance:
Sanskrit College, Calcutta Overview
- Establishment:
- Founding Date: January 1, 1824
- Foundation Stone Laid: February 25, 1824
- Historical Development:
- Initial Setup: The College was initially housed in a rented building and later moved to its own premises.
- Founding Figures: Dr. H.H. Wilson played a crucial role in the establishment, and Major A. Price was the first Secretary of the College.
- Early Eminent Teachers: Pandit Joygopal Tarkalankar and Pandit Premchand Tarkavagish were prominent early teachers.
- Curriculum: Initially focused on Sanskrit studies including Vyakarana (grammar), Rhetorics, Kavya (poetry), Darsana (philosophy), Smriti (law), Jyotisha (astrology), Ayurveda (medicine), and Puravritta (mythology).
- Introduction of English: English was introduced as an additional subject in 1828.
- Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar: Joined as a student in 1829, became Principal in 1851, and significantly reformed the curriculum to include compulsory English.
- Significant Milestones:
- First B.A. Degree: Awarded in 1860.
- Public Sanskrit Examination: Introduced by Pandit Mahesh Chandra Nyayaratna, with the ‘TIRTHA’ title awarded to successful students.
- Post Graduate Research Department: Established in 1951 under Dr. Sadananda Bhaduri.
- Notable Figures: Dr. Gaurinath Sastri significantly contributed to the College’s stature.
- Current Status:
- Departments and Facilities:
- Graduate degree in Arts
- Post Graduate Training and Research Department
- Oriental ToI or Chatuspati
- Research Publication Department
- Research Journal ‘Our Heritage’
- Foreign Language Department
- Vast collection of Sanskrit and Pali manuscripts (~25,000)
- Library with over 100,000 printed volumes
- Museums dedicated to Pandit Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar and Mahamahopadhyay Haraprasad Sastri
Stamp Details:
- Purpose: To commemorate the 175th anniversary of the Sanskrit College.
- Design Elements: The stamp would likely feature imagery related to the College’s history, such as portraits of notable figures (like Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar), historical buildings, and elements representing Sanskrit studies.
The Sanskrit College stands as a beacon of academic excellence in Sanskrit and has made significant contributions to education and scholarship over its long history.