About this stamp
Sri Pratap College, located in Srinagar, is one of the oldest and most prestigious institutions of higher education in the region of Jammu and Kashmir.
Establishment and Early History
The college traces its origin to 1905, when the well-known Hindu High School Srinagar was upgraded to a college by the Central Hindu College Trust in Varanasi.
The establishment of the institution was largely due to the efforts of Annie Besant and Daya Krishan Kaul, who served as the Private Secretary to Maharaja Pratap Singh.
The first Principal of the college was M. U. Moore, an Irish scholar of great reputation who played an important role in raising the academic standards of the institution.
Renaming and Affiliation
In 1911, the Government of Jammu and Kashmir took over the institution and renamed it Sri Pratap College in honour of Maharaja Pratap Singh, the ruler of the state.
In the same year, the college was upgraded to the degree level. In 1912, it was affiliated with University of the Punjab (then located in Lahore).
Academic Development
For many years, Sri Pratap College had the distinction of being the only institution in the Kashmir Valley offering higher education in both arts and science.
In 1975, the arts faculty was separated, after which the college developed into an exclusive science college. Today, it offers courses in various scientific disciplines such as:
- Botany
- Chemistry
- Biochemistry
- Zoology
- Environmental Science
- Water Management
- Physics
- Mathematics
- Information Technology
- Geology
- Geography
Legacy and Contribution
Over the decades, Sri Pratap College has built a strong reputation for academic excellence. It has produced many distinguished alumni who have gone on to become leaders and experts in various fields.
To celebrate the centenary (100 years) of Sri Pratap College, the Department of Posts issued a commemorative postage stamp, recognizing the institution’s long-standing contribution to higher education in Jammu and Kashmir.
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