Classroom Politics

Former prime minister V P Singh, who was in Class of 19588212;he did a BSc in Physics8212;has promised an evening of shayari sometime this year. But he8217;s not the only prime minister the college has produced. P V Narsimha Rao graduated from Fergusson in 1942 and even played an active role during the college8217;s centenary celebrations in 1985.

The college8217;s roll of illustrious personalities is formidable. Acharya Kriplani, Veer Savarkar his hostel room is still preserved as a monument, Congress stalwart V N Gadgil, socialist leaders S M Joshi and Nanasaheb Gore, Marathi humorist P L Deshpande, family planning crusader Shakunatala Paranjapye and noted Indologist Iravati Karve are some of the more well-known names. To the filmworld it gave late Smita Patil, Sai Paranjapye and Sriram Lagu. Its contribution to other professions has been equally impressive.

THE history of Fergusson College has its roots in India8217;s 1857 war of independence. Following it, many in India felt the pressing need of a modern education system that would be an effective weapon in the fight against imperialism.

Says 92-year-old Prof S V Korekar who was principal of Fergusson College between 1957 and 1964: 8216;8216;Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Vishnushastri Chiplunkar, G G Agarkar and Mahadev Namjoshi decided to delve into the arena of modern education as a nationalistic activity and the first experiment came through the New English School in 1857. Propelled by its success, they formed the Deccan Education Society in 1884 and Fergusson College came into being in 1885.8217;8217;

The college got its name from its first patron, Sir James Fergusson, the then Governor of Bombay, who also donated Rs 1,200. It was inaugurated by William Wordsworth, grandson of the famous English poet and then principal of Mumbai8217;s Elphinstone College.

Soon the college established a reputation of academic excellence. Remembers Korekar, 8216;8216;Even prominent intellectuals like R G Bhandarkar and M G Ranade took active part in building this institute. Maharshi Karve renowned social reformer was professor of Mathematics here. Gopal Krishna Gokhale was also associated with this college.8217;8217;

The British let the college have a free run since it largely stayed away from politics. In fact, Tilak later resigned from the trust since his proposal of merging patriotism with education was not accepted by other members.

Post-Independence too, Fergusson maintained its excellence. Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru both shared a special relationship with it. On his first visit to the college in 1954, Rajendra Prasad remembered that when he and some associates were with Gandhi in Champaran, they decided to establish a 8216;8216;model college on the lines of Poona.8217;8217; Prasad, in fact, was sent to Pune to study the workings of this college.

There are some lighthearted memories too. Old timers remember fondly the little bridge that connects the women8217;s hostel to the college. It was8212; and continues8212;to be called, the Bridge of Sighs.