Sylhet Government College: A Historical Overview

Introduction

Sylhet Government College, originally known as Murari Chand College (MC College), stands as one of the oldest and most esteemed educational institutions in the Sylhet region of Bangladesh. Its history is deeply intertwined with the socio-cultural and political landscape of Bengal, witnessing significant transformations from its establishment in the late 19th century to its present-day role in higher education.

Founding and Early Years (1892-1908)

Murari Chand College was established on June 27, 1892, by Raja Girish Chandra Roy, a local nobleman and Zamindar of Raynagar in Srihatta (present-day Sylhet). The college was named in memory of his maternal grandfather, Murari Chand Roy. Initially, it began as a second-grade college affiliated with the University of Calcutta, with a modest start of 18 students and 4 teachers. The institution was located beside the present Raja G C School.

Raja Girish Chandra Roy personally funded the college, running it as a proprietary institution for sixteen years until his death in 1908. However, the devastating earthquake of 1897, which also affected Raja Girish Chandra, severely impacted the college. The original college building collapsed, and Raja Girish Chandra Roy, who was a victim of the quakes, found himself financially vulnerable. He appealed to the government to take over the college to ensure its continuation as an educational institution.

Transition to Government Control (1908-1947)

In 1908, following the death of Raja Girish Chandra, the government took over the college, transforming it into an ‘aided’ institution. This arrangement lasted for four years. In 1912, Sir Archdale Earle, the then Chief Commissioner of Assam, announced that the college would be brought under full government control. At that time, the institution had 98 students and 6 teachers.

In July 1916, with public donations led by Khan Bahadur Syed Abdul Majid (Kaptan Mia), the B.A. (Degree) course was introduced, elevating the institution to a first-grade college. A separate building for the college was constructed at Govinda Charan Park (now Hasan Market). The college continued to grow, introducing the I.Sc. (Intermediate Science) program in 1913. Between 1918 and 1922, Honours courses were launched in Sanskrit, English, Persian, Arabic, Mathematics, Philosophy, and History.

Relocation and Expansion (1925-1947)

In 1925, the college moved to its current campus at Thackarey Hills (now Tilagarh). The foundation stone of the new campus was laid on August 19, 1921, in the presence of Sir William Morris, Governor of Assam, and Education Minister Khan Bahadur Syed Abdul Majid. Approximately 150 acres of land were acquired for the college. Until the Partition of India in 1947, the college remained affiliated with the University of Calcutta.

Post-Partition Developments (1947-1989)

Following the Partition of India in 1947, the college's affiliation shifted to the University of Dhaka. In 1955, the Honours programs were temporarily discontinued. However, in 1961, Honours courses were reintroduced in Bangla, English, Political Science, Economics, Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry.

In 1968, the college came under the newly established University of Chittagong, and in 1970, Master’s programs were opened but later suspended due to a shortage of teachers. Honours in Botany began in 1972.

In 1964, under a policy decision of the Pakistan government’s education department, the higher secondary sections of major colleges were separated. As a result, the humanities and commerce streams of the higher secondary level were discontinued at Murari Chand College, although the science stream was retained under special consideration. A separate government higher secondary college began operating on the eastern side of the campus in July 1966. The new institution was named Murari Chand Higher Secondary College, while the original Murari Chand College was renamed Sylhet Government College.

Renaming and Present Status (1989-Present)

On December 31, 1989, a Ministry of Education notification restored the institution’s traditional name, renaming it Murari Chand College once again. The college continues to be a prominent educational institution in Bangladesh, offering Higher Secondary education in the Science stream, along with undergraduate (Pass), undergraduate (Honours), and postgraduate programs affiliated with the National University.

Read also: Government College, Dinajpur

Campus and Infrastructure

The college campus is spread over a large area and includes nine academic buildings consisting of classrooms, a library, and department offices. The central library of the college is one of the oldest in the country and houses a vast collection of volumes, including many rare books used by researchers. The college also features a botanical garden, run by the botany department, which is unique in the Sylhet Division. Residential facilities include two hostels, one for males and one for females.

Extracurricular Activities and Organizations

Murari Chand College has a vibrant extracurricular environment with various organizations and activities. The first and old organizations of MC College include Mohona Cultural Organisation. There are 3 rover units and 1 girl in-rover unit run by the Bangladesh Scouts. The Mainamati Battalion of the Bangladesh National Cadet Corps have a platoon here. On November 14, 2017, the Murari Chand Debate Society (MCDS) was established. The MCDS won first place amongst the Sylhet Division in Democracy International's Debate Championship 2018.

Sylhet Government Women's College

Sylhet also has another notable institution, the Sylhet Government Women's College. Established in 1939, it has made significant contributions to women's studies in Bangladesh. The college provides higher education in science and the arts, and since the 2009-2010 academic year, it has provided English lessons as well. As of 2013, there were 5013 students enrolled. The college has three academic buildings, a modern auditorium, an administrative building, and a library. The residential arrangement of the students includes five buildings with 360 accommodation, but more than 500 students reside at the hall.

Sylhet Polytechnic Institute

Another important educational institution in Sylhet is the Sylhet Polytechnic Institute (SPI), a state-supported technical academic institute. Established in 1955 by the Ford Foundation, along with four other similar institutes, SPI initially offered 3-year courses based on the syllabus of Oklahoma State University.

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