The Patna University, Hindi: पटना विश्वविद्यालय, the first university in Bihar, was established in 1917 during the British Raj, and is the 7th oldest University of the Indian subcontinent. At that time, the jurisdiction of the university extended to Bihar, Orissa, and the Kingdom of Nepal. The university conducted examinations for educational institutions under its jurisdiction from school finals to the postgraduation levels. This continued almost for four decades, until the establishment of the Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, and the Utkal University, Bhubaneshwar. Vice Chancellor Sir Chandeshwar Prasad Narayan Singh's (Sir CPN Singh) (1945-49) contributed to develop a post-graduate course in the university,[1] bringing teachers of eminence[who?] from all over India to man the newly opened departments.[1]
Colleges
The University has several colleges and institutions, imparting education in diverse fields, including Law, Teachers’ Training, Science and Arts, Commerce, Medical and Engineering. Since 1974, the University has also a Directorate of Distance Education.
Some scholars who contributed to the growth of the University include Rashtrakavi Ramdhari Singh 'Dinkar', R. C. Sinha, Balbhadra Prasad, J. N. Chatterjee, Jadu Nath Sarkar, Mahamahopadhyaya Pandit Ram Avatar Sharma, Professor Pandit Nalin Vilochan Sharma, Acharya Pandit Devendranath Sharma, Dr. R.K.Sinha, Cr. D. P. Vidyarthy, eminent historian R.S. Sharma, D.M.Datta, H. P. Maity,and C. J. Hamilton. Since its inception, the Patna University had enjoyed the benefit of guidance from the eminent personalities from diverse fields, which include:
- Sir Ganesh Dutt Singh, longest serving Minister in British India in which capacity he served for advancement of education in Bihar. Sir Ganesh Dutt Singh, who was a freedom fighter, administrator and educationist in which capacity he did a lot for improving education and health services in the state of Bihar in the pre-independence era.[2][3] Sir Ganesh Dutta made generous donations from his earnings and personal property for the development of educational institutions, like radium institute in Patna Medical College, Darbhaga Medical College, Ayurvedic College and schools for the blind, deaf and dumb, among others.[4] A short film based on the life and works of Sir Dutt has been made by Prakash Jha.[5] Sir Ganesh Dutt had donated his house Krishna Kunj to Patna University to start the the Patna University Institute of Psychological Research and Service, one of the oldest psychological service centres in Eastern India in 1945 at the initiative of Sir Chandeshwar Prasad Narayan Singh Sinha, who was the then Vice Chancellor of Patna University.[6]
- Sir Chandeshwar Prasad Narayan Singh (Sinha) Vice Chancellor of Patna University from 1945-1949 and India's first Ambassador to Nepal and first Governor of Punjab.
- Dr.Rajendra Prasad, the first President of India
- Dr. Sachidanand Sinha, the first President of the Constituent Assembly of India
- Dr.Anugrah Narayan Sinha,a great freedom fighter and the[7] first Deputy Chief Minister cum Finance Minister of Bihar from 1946-1957.
- Jayaprakash Narayan,a great freedom fighter and the father of total revolution.
- Braj Kishore Prasad, a great freedom fighter
- Sir Syed Sultan Ahmed, who became a member of the Executive Council of Viceroy of India
- Hasan Imam, who became the President of Indian National Congress
Alumni
[8]
The manpower coming out of the University have always occupied prominent place in different segments of the Indian society. Some of the prominent alumni of the University include:
- Dr. Sri Krishna Sinha, first Chief Minister of Bihar.
- Dr. Anugrah Narayan Sinha,eminent nationalist & first Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar.
- Professor Ram Sharan Sharma, eminent Historian and scholar.
- Professor Ram Karan Sharma, eminent scholar of Sanskrit.
- Justice Lalit Mohan Sharma, former Chief Justice of India.
- Mr. L.N. Sinha (Lal Narain Sinha), Attorney General of India (1979-83).
- Balmiki Prasad Singh eminent scholar, Indian Civil Servant, and present Governor of Sikkim.
- Justice K. B. N. Singh, ex-Chief Justice of Madras and Patna High Court, as well as Governor of Madras and Bihar.
- Justice B. P. Singh, the former Judge of the Supreme Court of India.
- Papiya Ghosh, internationally renowned historian
- Shri Indradeep Sinha Economist, writer and veteran communist leader.
- Shri. Ravi Shankar Prasad, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India, Former Union Minister and BJP Chief National Spokesperson.
See also
References
External links
